The Fascinating World of Spiders – Londolozi Blog

Now, I know these wondrous creatures may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I’m going to write a blog on them anyway and try and convince you that they’re not that bad, and not only that, that they are specimens worthy of a moment of your time to admire.

Let’s begin with their craftsmanship. Spiderwebs often stand out as some of the most stunning creations in nature. Just take a moment to observe them against the backdrop of the grasslands, where the golden rays of the setting sun illuminate their intricate patterns, or in the early morning when dew collects on each delicate strand, transforming them into glistening masterpieces.

Spider silk, often hailed as one of nature’s marvels, holds secrets to strength and adaptability that fascinate scientists and enthusiasts alike. Imagine a rope under tension, its fibres tightening and compressing towards the centre as the strands of the weave resist straightening. This compression, a key component of rope strength, is absent in spider silk. Unlike woven ropes, spiders spin single strands of silk, each capable of bearing incredible loads relative to its thickness, the strength lying not in woven complexity but in its singular, robust strands. Along with this incredible solid strand strength, spider silk exhibits elastic/plastic properties. Unlike traditional elastic materials, which rebound when stretched, spider silk deforms permanently, stretching and holding its shape. This characteristic plays a crucial role in the spider’s hunting strategy. When prey collides with the web, the silk deforms outward, ensnaring the victim instead of rebounding and potentially allowing escape.

Garden Orb-web Spiders are striking in appearance, the bright yellow aposematic or warning colouration reminds birds and predators that the spiders are not palatable.
Often positioning themselves in the centre of the web with their head facing down, the spider holds its legs together in pairs creating a bold ‘X’ shape over the zig-zag pattern in the middle of the web. This is known as the stabilimentum, but it is uncertain as to the exact purpose of this. One theory is the high visibility of stabilimenta can prevent birds from flying through webs

And now let’s ease into the admiration of the creatures themselves, starting with their locomotion. By contracting muscles in their cephalothorax, spiders force hemolymph into their legs, providing hydraulic pressure that, combined with tendon systems, facilitates movement. Jumping spiders, for instance, propel themselves by rapidly expanding their legs with hemolymph, enabling impressive leaps of up to 50 times their body length. Just think this through, and try to envision it; the complexity of the miniature arrangements inside of these arachnids is incredible!

Jumping spiders are my favourite, looking like mad scientists wearing goggles during some crazy experiment, or more pertinently, stuntmen wearing goggles as they go about their Evil Knievil-esque stunts.

A spider that most can appreciate the beauty of are the orb spiders, also known as the banded-legged nephilia. They’re slightly venomous but very reluctant to bite and do so only if severely provoked. I say most can appreciate these because they make no effort to conceal themselves, creating massive beautiful golden webs that are easily seen and avoided  (or as you may be catching onto the theme here, admired). These spiders stand out for their remarkable silk production and intricate behaviours. The name “nephilia” originates from ancient Greek, meaning “fond of spinning,” a fitting tribute to the colossal webs these spiders create, which can endure for years.

Rangers James Souchon and Pete Thorpe admiring a Garden Orb-Web spider – another impressive spider that is a close relative to the golden orb-web

The silk spun by Golden orb spiders is exceptionally strong, with claims suggesting that if those strands were as thick as a pencil, a Boeing 747 could fly into that web and be trapped whilst flying at maximum speed! What?! That’s crazy. These webs serve as effective traps for insects and even small birds, showcasing the unparalleled strength and durability of spider silk.

Demonstrating the incredible strength of the Golden orb web spider’s silk. This bird would have put some serious pressures

Female golden orb spiders exhibit meticulous behaviour in web maintenance. They designate specific sections of their webs as “pantries,” where they store future meals or potential bait for fresh prey. These food items are neatly arranged and wrapped in silk to prevent dehydration, demonstrating the spiders’ resourcefulness and attention to detail.

A female Golden Orb-Web spider begins to wrap up a bee for later feeding.

In the realm of golden orb spiders, females reign supreme. They are often up to ten times larger than their male counterparts and take on the responsibility of web construction. Male spiders typically inhabit the females’ webs, enjoying the comforts of food and shelter. When seeking to mate, males employ cautious tactics, tapping on the web’s edge to gauge the female’s mood or offering snacks as a distraction before hastily depositing their semen and making a swift exit; not exactly an amorous affair, but ultimately it’s about gene propagation, not love, out here in the wild.

And that concludes my attempt at convincing the many arachnophobes (a very understandable fear) out there to give spiders a chance. They’re not so bad, once you get to know them.