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Spider silk is an extremely strong material and is on weight basis stronger than steel. The silk is produced by the silk glands in the form of a liquid. As one would expect, protein and other organic molecule distribution differs for the various types of silk the spider produces. Before the silk is released from the spinnerets it hardens (polymerizes). At least seven types of glands have been recognized. But there is no known family with all seven types:
- Glandula Aggregata that produces the sticky material
- Ampulleceae major and minor for the production of the walking threads
- Pyriformes for the attaching threads
- Aciniformes produces silk for the encapsulation of the prey
- Tubiliformes for the silk of the egg-sac
- Coronatae threads for the axis of the sticking threads
Information and images are from www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/spidhome.htm.