The Coolidge examiner., 1934-03-02
Prepared BY National Geographic Society.
waahgngto u c.--wHu Service.

W aaNtNEtuNs II Nv NJ NfTNlGes
a LTHOUGH the mere mention
~ OF spiders to most laymen
gives them the "creeps," the
insect has been the subject OF in
teresting scientific study for ento-
mologists.
For the spider enthusiast sojourn-
Ing In the country, whether In the
United States or In any other land
Of temperate climate, the dawn OF n
late midsummer day In marsh
meadow holds promise OF delight.
II Is spider season, the time when
the fairy spinners are to be OBJ
served at their best, when small,
dainty webs. usually overlooked,
stand out In perfect design against
the green OF leaf and grass, the tilmy
silk glistenIng with dew.
Webs. webs eyerywhere-hun-
dreds OF them. thousands OF them
--blllow a gossamer sea In the
morning light
There are funnel webs. sheet
webs. hammock webs. webs OF inde-
scrlbable shapes. and finest Of all.
near the edge OF the woods, the
beautiful orb webs. beJeweled In
their radiant symmetry.
Spiders are marvellous spInners.
From the many microscopic splgots
at the tips OF their heavy abdomens
they conjure several kinds OF silk
with which TO construct webs OF ex-
quisIte design and beauty. They
make snares for their prey. sacs
for their eggs. shelters for protec-
ton from enemies. draglines for Sc
curlty In movement, balloons for
navigating the skies, and many
other things for service In their va.
ried and romantic lives.
Although the silken webs are OF
many different designs. the fnery OF
the Individual spider does not
change with the passing seasons
Each species has its own style OF
web. 10 which all its members ad
here so long as environment re
mains unaltered by geological
progress.
Evolution OF the Web.
Students believe the first web
a simple tube. evolved from the
drag lines used by the spider in 20
ing In and out OF a hole in this
ground. IT'S first retreat. These
threads Of silk finely lined the nest
and radiated from the entrance
striking against the lines, victims
would be detected and seized by the
watchful spider.
BY extending the sheet about the
entrance 10 the tube and bringing
the latter out of the ground, the
spider developed the funnel web
The axis OF the web was shifted il
the course of this change until tht
tube of the funnel became almos
horizontal. and later the lower par
was expanded into a net These
changes give us the typical funne
web, such as Is spun by the com
mon grass spider. Angelena naevia
Inside the tube OF the funnel
especially when this tube leads
backward among tangled blades o
grasses, the spider still has protec
ton from its enemies. The plac
Ing OF the web above the grounC
and the expansion Of the lower par
OF il into a sheet increased its eff
cheney as an insect snare.
The tube which leads away from
the sheet part of funnel web, be
comes an inconvenience when webi
are placed In exposed positions
above the ground; hence the sheet
web weaver leaves It out. By spin
ming the sheet In exposed positions
they are able to increase their catcl
of flying insects.
Bowl and Dome Webs.
Spiders commonly modify shee
webs in two ways: They may brin.
/ the sides of the sheet upward t.
produce a hammock or bowl, o.
downward TO form a dome.
The advantage Of the bowl typ
is easily noted by observing on
bowl and dolly spider, Linyphi;
communls. 1t places its hammock
like web well below the tops 0
small shrubs or large herbaceou
plants and directly under the ia
vorite feeding places Of such insect
as plant lice and leaf hoppers. Nat
urally, every disturbance Of tn
twigs and leaves shakes a shower 0