Figure 1: Attachment disc morphology matches different functions.
From: Cobweb-weaving spiders produce different attachment discs for locomotion and prey capture
Figure shows SEM images of scaffolding discs (a) and gumfoot discs (b) spun by the cobweb-weaving spider A. tepidariorum. Insets show optical microscope images of the respective discs. The black arrows point towards dragline silk (MA silk) in (a) and its inset, while the white arrows point towards pyriform fibres, arranged in a 'staple-pin' architecture, attaching the dragline silk to the surface. Black arrows point towards gumfoot thread (MA silk covered with aggregate glue) in (b) and its inset, while the white arrows point towards pyriform fibres, arranged in a dendritic architecture, attaching the gumfoot thread to the surface. Scale bars in both the figures are 100 μm.
