Capture a Spider Web
Safety Notes
Please be careful not to disturb any webs that a spider is still using.
Materials
- Spider web - 1 per student
- Black paper - 1 per student
- Spray adhesive
- Spray bottle with water
- Fine powder (e.g., baking powder, baby powder, face powder)
Instructions
- Find a spider web. They are easier to find in the morning, and even easier to find on fall mornings. Be sure the web no longer has a resident!
- Mist the web with water (unless it is already moist with morning dew -- you can tell because it will be glistening).
- Place about a tablespoon of powder in your hand and blow it onto the web. It will stick to the moisture on the web.
- Spray a light coat of adhesive on the black paper, then gently press the sticky side of the paper up against the web. You will likely need to use your fingers (or a stick if you think this is icky!) to loosen the web from its mounting. It is surprising how strong the web can be. The more careful you are in this process, the better your end result will be. Be sure to examine your web with a magnifying glass or microscope.
- Extension: It is fun to capture different shapes and sizes of webs, and to try and identify the spiders that made them.
