Maturing and Coordination of Web-Building Activity

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Abstract
Experiments are reported in which 114 Zygiella x-notata Cl. spiderlings were taken out of the cocoon before the time at which they normally left (2 weeks after the second molt); 67 were placed on wooden frames and 47 on wire frames. Both groups built partial, irregular thread-patterns at first, and, as they grew older, constructed more and more regular geometric orb-webs: the transition can be traced through several stages. The shape of the web, particularly the presence of the free-sector, was dependent on the frame; webs built in a circular wire frame lacked the free-sector. It is assumed that the accomplishment of full, regular orb webs is essentially based on the progressive histological differentiation of the central nervous system in the spiderlings during the developmental phase under observation; the wire frame could influence the shape of the web through making construction of a retreat difficult.

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