Quick Take
- The black wood spider goes by multiple names. Untangle the naming confusion →
- Spider silk has uses that go far beyond trapping prey. Explore silk's many uses →
- Wrapping prey in silk isn't just about securing a meal. There's a second purpose behind it that reveals something surprising about how spiders manage food. Discover how prey wrapping works →
The dexterity of this black wood spider is remarkable. A large dragonfly had already gotten caught in her web, and she had killed it. Now, she is using silk to wrap it up, a behavior spiders use to secure prey and, in some species, store food for later. She draws silk from her spinnerets and wraps it around the dragonfly. This spider is an expert at wrapping!
What Type of Spider Are Black Wood Spiders?
The black wood spider is commonly identified as Nephila kuhli, a golden orb-weaving spider. The World Spider Catalog lists Nephila kuhli from Myanmar to Indonesia, though some older or secondary sources give a broader range. Golden orb-weavers in the genus Nephila are sometimes called giant wood spiders, golden silk orb-weavers, or banana spiders.
They belong to the orb-weaver family Araneidae, in the golden orb-weaver subfamily Nephilinae, though some sources still treat golden orb-weavers as the family Nephilidae. These spiders build large orb-shaped webs and use silk not only for web construction, but also for wrapping prey. Silk is produced in silk glands and drawn out through spinnerets at the rear of the abdomen.
Do All Spiders Make Webs?
Not all spiders use webs to catch prey.
©Rav Kark/Shutterstock.com
No, not all spiders make webs to catch their prey. Some spiders use a “sit and wait” method to catch their prey. They lurk in hiding places and then ambush their victims. Others actively pursue their prey by chasing after them. Also, some spiders invade other spiders’ webs to prey on the host spider itself. These are sometimes referred to as pirate spiders. Some mimic the actions of a trapped insect to lure the web owner out and then attack.
Is Spider Silk Just for Making Webs?
As we see in this clip, spiders do not just use their silk to make webs. They also use it to package up their prey so that they can eat it later. Other spiders use their silk to create molting platforms, and others use it to make retreats. Most spiders use their silk to wrap up their eggs. You have probably also seen spiders using their silk as a dragline. They anchor it to an object so they will not descend too far if they fall. They use the dragline to pull themselves back to their original position. Spiderlings also use silk to create balloons, allowing them to travel long distances.
