One of my favorite books is “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White. The story is about a simple spider that spins words into a web to save Wilbur (a pig), from being slaughtered.

Charlotte weaves words like “Terrific” and “Some Pig” into her web. Then the humans begin to believe that Wilbur the pig is too special to be killed. Wilbur really was just an ordinary pig but Charlotte was an extraordinary spider. Still the characters in the book believed what was written in the web and Wilbur was saved.

In 2008, we hear so many things about our man-made Internet and “websites” that we forget the original web sites of nature. This article and pictorial will focus on the natural and miraculous beauty of simple web sites spun by ordinary spiders.

First of all, there are 30,000 different kinds of spiders on earth. Some spiders spin webs and some do not. Spiders are not insects. Spiders are arachnids. Insects have 6 legs and spiders have 8 legs.

Spiders make a web using their spinnerets which are located in their stomach region. It is here in this location that the silky thread is made. The liquid silk is made from protein and it dries in the air. Once a spinneret casts a liquid line it needs the wind to send it out so it can attach to something tangible. The silk of a spider is able to absorb a huge amount of moving energy. A spider web has great elasticity and the same weight as steel if measured in the same exact amount.

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The web of a spider is one of nature’s most fragile, beautiful and often ignored gifts.

After secure lines have been created the spider can affix the netting of the web. In order to keep the silk from sticking to its own legs, the spider uses a special substance which is a kind of oil, from its mouth to its legs. At this point the spider starts at the center of the web and begins to weave radials from the inside and then out.

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An orb wed saturated in morning dew is so unique and lovely.

Different types of silk have different functions. One kind is used to catch prey, another to wrap prey and then there are five different kinds of silk that a spider uses to spin its web.

The great strength of the web allows spiders to catch insects and sometimes small birds depending on the type of spider.

Spiders need protein to produce the silk to spin their webs and so they must eat as much of it as possible in the form of insects.

Once the line is attached the spider will walk up and down the new line to make it stronger and more secure. This step is very important as strong foundation supports are needed in order to build the rest of the web.

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An up close picture of a web shows the dewdrops of morning clinging to the silk threads. The drops of dew reflect in the sunlight like rows of tiny lights.

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This magnified picture illustrates the strength of a simple web. A spider’s web has the strength of the same amount of steel and enormous elasticity.

Some interesting “web” links:

Physorg.com

(Shows an enormous spider’s web in Texas-where everything is bigger including spider webs.)

A Spider Spins a web on YouTube

MSNBC

A special report about the mysteries of the spider web

So the next time you see a spider’s web don’t pass it by quickly. Instead take a moment and reflect on the wonders of nature and the miracle of an original, 100% natural website!