Photo: Spiders Make Stronger Silk to Catch Bigger Prey

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A black widow spider crawls on a leaf in Sand Hills, North Carolina.

Common house spiders—Achaearanea tepidariorum—were found to produce stronger silk to catch larger prey, scientists said in August 2008.

The finding suggests some spiders determine when to save energy by producing weaker silk for smaller prey.

Photograph by George Grall/NGS

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