Fine structural analysis on triad spinning spigots of an orb‐web spider's capture threads

• Published in: Entomological research Vol. 44; no. 3; pp. 121 - 129
• Main Authors: Park, Jong‐Gu, Moon, Myung‐Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Entomological Society of Korea 01.05.2014; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; 한국곤충학회
• Subjects: Araneae; capture thread; coatings; droplets; Nephila clavata; silk; spider; spigot; triad spinning; 생물학
• ISSN: 1738-2297; 1748-5967; 1748-5967
• DOI: 10.1111/1748-5967.12057

Capture threads of the golden orb‐web spider Nephila clavata are produced from the silks of a pair of triad spinning units composed of a flagelliform gland (FLG) and two aggregate glands (AGG). In N. clavata, arrangement of the triad spigots is closely related to coating an axial supporting fiber with sticky aqueous droplets on a continuous and consistent basis for capture thread production. The central spigot of FLG and peripherally located AGG spigots are aligned along a single plane, and both have bullet‐type spigots with flexible segments. In particular, the pear‐shaped spigot of the AGG with a wide‐aperture nozzle provides not only sufficient luminal space for controlling transient storage of the aqueous gluey substance but also an effective spatial system that thoroughly coats the axial fibers with a viscous aqueous solution.