 |
There are two different
features that make the Web of the Wespenspinne differ from webs of other
species: One is, the
centre of the Web
shows an extremely
dense fabric. It
is visible only with morning dew on it, thousands of droplets revealing
the texture.
The second feature is a strip from the center downwards that shows a broad zig-zag pattern. Scientists speculated for a long time on what its use could be. A former hypothesis assumed that it would stabilize the web. But since other species make stable webs without the (??stabiliment, as it used to be called), the hypothesis was never truely convincing. Today it is thought to serve as a camouflage of the spider sitting in the centre of the web. The strip visually dissolves the spider's outlines by continuing the pattern on its back through the lower half of the web. |
 |
