Contact: Beth King
kingb@si.edu
202-633-4700 x28216
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Nephila clavipes, setae with Drip Tips

Caption: In this video of Nephila clavipes building a web, you can clearly see the pointed drip tip of the bristly hairs on the spider's leg. Tropical plants have leaves with pointed drip tips so that water drains off of them easily. In this case, any adhesive from the web that sticks to the spider's leg readily drips off.

Credit: Daniel Briceno

Usage Restrictions: Credit: Daniel Briceno

Related news release: Why spiders do not stick to their own sticky web sites