2014
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.097816
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Temperature mediates the effect of humidity on the viscoelasticity of glycoprotein glue within the droplets of an orb-weaving spider's prey capture threads

Abstract: Sticky viscous prey capture threads retain insects that strike araneoid orb-webs. The threads' two axial fibers support a series of glue droplets, each featuring a core of adhesive viscoelastic glycoprotein covered by an aqueous solution. After sticking, the glue extends, summing the adhesion of multiple droplets, and dissipates some of the energy of a struggling prey. As a day progresses, threads experience a drop in humidity and an increase in temperature, environmental variables that have the potential to a… Show more

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Cited by 32 publications
(46 citation statements)
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“…The viscid fibers of web-weaving spiders are coated with glycoprotein-based glue droplets that facilitate prey capture ( Figure 4C) Hendricks, 2009, 2010;Sahni et al, 2010;Stellwagen et al, 2014). The properties of the glue droplets depend on the rate at which they are extended.…”
Section: Spider Silk Adhesion Gluementioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…The viscid fibers of web-weaving spiders are coated with glycoprotein-based glue droplets that facilitate prey capture ( Figure 4C) Hendricks, 2009, 2010;Sahni et al, 2010;Stellwagen et al, 2014). The properties of the glue droplets depend on the rate at which they are extended.…”
Section: Spider Silk Adhesion Gluementioning
confidence: 99%
“…These properties are exactly opposite the properties displayed by synthetic adhesive systems. Although glue droplets appear to consist of a glycoprotein core and a viscous aqueous salt coating (Vollrath et al, 1990;Hendricks, 2009, 2010;Sahni et al, 2010;Stellwagen et al, 2014), an in-depth examination of the relationship between the chemical composition and the physical properties has not yet been conducted. Synthetic adhesive systems that display adhesion properties similar to those of spider silk have not yet been developed.…”
Section: Spider Silk Adhesion Gluementioning
confidence: 99%
“…The epi-illumination used in subsequent studies to more clearly reveal the outline of a droplet's glycoprotein core (e.g. Opell et al, 2013;Stellwagen et al, 2014) makes it difficult to visualize these granules independently of the surrounding glycoprotein core within flattened droplets (Fig. 1C).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…By examining how droplets respond to UVR, we can understand the broader consequences of this potentially damaging environmental factor on the web's adhesive delivery system. Two environmental factors are known to affect the capture spiral's glycoprotein: relative humidity (RH; Sahni et al, 2011;Opell et al, 2011a) and temperature (Stellwagen et al, 2014). Depending on the species, extensibility (how far a droplet stretches) and adhesion (the energy required to pull a droplet from a surface) of the glue may continue to increase as RH approaches 100% [Neoscona crucifera (Lucas 1839); Opell et al, 2013], or may function optimally at intermediate levels (55% RH in A. aurantia and Larinioides cornutus; Sahni et al, 2011;Opell et al, 2013) and decrease at lower and higher humidity.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
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