The Design, Diversity, and Performance of Viscous Capture Threads Produce by Araneoid Orb-weaving Spiders

该项目研究了粘稠捕获线的设计和功能，这些捕获线是在4000多种蜘蛛制造的圆网上发现的。这些粘线是由悬浮在弹性纤维上的小粘滴形成的。研究确定：1.；2.什么粘附力有助于液滴的粘性？2 .这些力如何被纤维吸收以抵抗裂纹扩展；3 .液滴大小、可塑性和间距如何优化螺纹附着力；4 .具有不同液滴轮廓的丝线对不同质地昆虫表面的承受力如何？具有不同捕获线特征的圆网如何留住昆虫。这是通过：1；测量具有不同液滴特征的线如何粘附在不同宽度和纹理的表面；开发描述线程性能的模型；3 .对多种蜘蛛的线和圆网的特征进行调查和比较分析；测量昆虫被具有不同捕获线特征的圆网所保留的时间。这些互补的方法解释了粘性螺纹如何作为一个集成的粘接系统运作，该系统可以吸收离散单元的复合粘接，并抵抗裂缝延长，这是对天然和人造粘接系统的一系列严重挑战。这些研究的原理和见解将帮助材料科学家开发新产品和应用。这些研究还表明，捕捉线的设计如何提高球织蜘蛛捕获猎物的能力，以及它如何促进猎物的专业化。这些都是重要的问题，因为蜘蛛是自然生态系统中的主要捕食者，并且作为生物昆虫控制的代理人正在受到越来越多的关注。开展教育练习，让小学和高中学生进行实地和实验室研究，使用显微镜、数码相机、计算机程序和简单的自制仪器收集和分析有关蜘蛛球网及其线的特征的数据。

This project examines the design and function of viscous capture threads that are found in orb-webs produced by over 4,000 species of spiders. These sticky threads are formed of small adhesive droplets suspended on elastic fibers. Studies determine: 1. What adhesive forces contribute to droplet stickiness, 2. How these forces are recruited by fibers in a manner that resists crack propagation, 3. How droplet size, plasticity, and spacing optimize thread adhesion, 4. How well threads with different droplet profiles hold insect surfaces of different textures, and 5. How well orb-webs with different capture thread characteristics retain insects. This is done by: 1. Measuring how threads that have different droplet features stick to surfaces of different widths and textures, 2. Developing models that describe thread performance, 3. Conducting a survey and comparative analysis of the features of threads and orb-webs produced by many spider species, and 4. Measuring the time that insects are retained by orb-webs that have different capture thread features. These complementary approaches explain how viscous thread operates as an integrated adhesive system that recruits the compound adhesion of discrete units and resists crack prorogation, a set of serious challenges to both natural and manufactured adhesive systems. The principles and insights from these studies will help materials scientists develop new products and applications. These studies also show how capture thread design enhances prey capture by orb-weaving spiders and how it may facilitate prey specialization. These are important issues, as spiders are key predators in natural ecosystems and are receiving increasing attention as agents of biological insect control. Educational exercises are developed that involve grade school and high school students in field and laboratory studies that use microscopes, digital cameras, computer program, and simple, homemade instruments to collect and analyze data on the features of spider orb-webs and their threads.