THE SECRET WORLD OF SPIDERWEBS

Discover a world of web-weavers.

This intriguing title introduces 20 different spiders from around the world via the webs they weave, describing the spiders, their silk, and the ways they make and use 13 different styles of webs. Arachnid expert Beccaloni’s topically organized presentation goes beyond the familiar world of orb-weavers to introduce a variety of web shapes and purposes. For the most part, each page or spread shows a different web and a different kind of spider. Some webs have decorations. Some use a kind of silk that is woolly. Some silk is stretchy; much, but not all, is sticky. Many webs are traps, but the book also includes descriptions of webs designed mainly to conceal or support the waiting spider, one that provides a stable barrier against sand, and one that dangles fishing lines. Each web is described in two to four short, informative paragraphs. Most of the web-makers are identified with both Latin and common names in these descriptions. Niumim’s gouache illustrations show the intricacies of each of the webs and the beauty of their spider creators. The varying background details and colors provide a sense of the worlds they inhabit, be it a cave, a desert, a forest, or your own backyard. The volume concludes with tips for spotting the spiders shown and a short list of sources for further research.

For arachnid appreciators of any age.