We’re having a heat wave.
As the insect population explodes with increased heat and humidity, spider webs become fascinating objects for study. The following project is intended for spider webs that are no longer in use.
Materials:
Procedure:
1. Find an abandoned spider web with enough space behind it to slide your paper.
2. If the web is moist, wait for it to dry.
3. Spray the web with fixative or hair spray.
4. Immediately apply talcum powder to sprayed web.
5. Spray another layer of fixative to the web.
6. Coat dark paper with fixative and slide it behind the web.
7. Push the paper against the back side of the web.
8. Cut the support strands of the spider web.
9. Let the paper and web dry before handling.
Further Observations:
1. Do the same species of spiders make the same shaped webs?
2. Which spiders make webs that look like flowers to insects?
3. Which spiders made three-dimensional webs?
4. Nature’s Everyday Mysteries