Question: why do spiders excrete webs

Michael Kimwele answered on 21 Jul 2025:

Spiders excrete webs primarily as a survival tool, using silk for various purposes such as building shelters, capturing prey, protecting eggs, and aiding in movement. The silk is produced in specialized glands and extruded through spinnerets located at the rear of the abdomen. Different types of silk serve different functions—for example, sticky silk to trap insects, strong draglines for safety while moving, or dense silk to encase eggs. Web-spinning is an evolutionary adaptation that enhances a spider’s ability to feed, reproduce, and avoid predators without expending excessive energy on hunting or escape.