[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch I guess this is one way to harvest the silk. There must be more ways they do it!!

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot oh my. I hope it is not too uncomfortable for the spider. I know they do not feel pain, and I guess to harvest silk they need to be restricted in place, but it looks a bit...

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch According to the article the spiders used for harvesting are almost at the end of their life cycle and when they produce the most and strongest silk.

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot Interesting, I wonder why that is, evolution-wise? I mean, in the animal kingdom, animals usually get worse with age: carnivores are slower and can't catch prey as easily, herbivores get their teeth damaged from all the chewing and can't chew anymore, that sort of thing. Interesting how spiders get the strongest silk at the end of their life by contrast.

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch It's really interesting. This kind of phenomenon is only part of the arachnid and insect family. I think it's because they are more vulnerable than any other creatures. Statistics show spiders only have a chance of survival in less than a year in the wilderness due to elemental factors. Some reach the golden age of 20.

If they survive longer and get older and slower, I guess creating a stronger web would help a lot to ensure their prey won't get away.

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot I always thought that the quality of silk depends on the spider's diet, it needs to produce it by processing what it eats. If the spider is malnourished, it would be less likely for it to have a strong web, by that logic, but apparently, it is tied to age. I wonder if maybe silk-producing glands are similar to a muscle and the more spider uses them, the better it gets. So those older ones are all pumped up.

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch It seems there are spiders that are still able to produce stronger webs during dry spells. For example, the Orb Weavers produce MaSp1 silk during times of starvation, expressing higher levels of the amino acids alanine and glycine making the webs more durable. The spider may also eat their own webs on occasionto absorb the proteins.

The spider diet does play an important role but it seems not all spider's anatomy works the same way. Some are more tolerant than others.

The glands are similar to a muscle but I'm not sure if they strengthen over time. Maybe spiders do strengthen their sphincter by doing some sort of exercise. 😂

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot well, there is a "Spider Pose" in yoga, and I guess you need to be going exercises to have a yoga pose named after you. Though spiders have more of an "aerial gymnast" vibe.

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch the spider pose looks too complicated for me and my flexibility is not what it used to be.

I agree spiders do have a more "Arial gymnast" vibe. Spiderman is a good example.

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot hah, it does seem like spiders took over this thread about hobbies a bit, yeah! 😅

Maybe they deserve their own little corner here somewhere.