Researchers have discovered the common spider can spin filaments of silk on a nano-scale. This finding can lead to new technology to produce practical applications of an artificial version using nano fibers.

Most spider varieties spin thread measuring around seven micrometers thick. The garden center spider or the feather legged lace weaver builds these spider webs using filaments a few nanometers thick, according to researchers from the University of Oxford.

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Scientists have observed and captured adult female spiders called Uloborus plumipes as they spun their silk using microscopic methods to take a closer look at their filament spinning special organs. They discovered a not so common organ found in spiders called the cribellun, which contains two plates carrying silk spigots with a diameter of just 50 nanometers.

The spigots apparently create these filaments without using any sticky substance. Instead, they use dry nano scale thread believed to be electrically charged that enables the strands to puff up.

According to lead author and zoologist Katrin Kronenberger from the University of Oxford, the Uloborus spider possess these unique cribellar glands, which are actually the smallest silk glands found in any spider species. The glands yield ultra fine catching wool to capture prey with this thread.

According to co-researcher Fritz Vollrath, the spiders work on their filaments to emit this "sticky" charge. The gossamer thread is actually made up of thousands of filaments from the spigots and the spiders comb out the thread's core using special hairs on their hind legs.

Using this combing and pulling technique with their legs, the spiders produce a unique electrostatic charge that acts as an effective adhesive in the form of a super sticky silky thread. This process is called hot-melt extrusion that produces nanothread less than 10 micrometers in diameter.

Researchers believe these findings can be applied to commercially produced polymer fibers and nano-scale filaments that can create stronger and longer fibers. This study was published in the journal, Biology Letters.

TagsSpiders Apparently Spin Electrostatic Charged Webs to Capture Prey, Spiders, spider webs, electrically charged webs spider nano thread