"Its silk has a glorious golden color, which attracts
flying insects. The golden silk orb weaver leaves
golden glue droplets along each web line. Sure
enough, when a bee flies into the web, it sticks long
enough for the spider to run the width of the web
and bite the bee with its long fangs.
If this proves to be a good hunting ground,
the golden silk orb weaver will keep its web
in place for years, and repair sections as and
when they get damaged."
I don't have a lingering love for spiders; they move a bit too quickly for me. I do have admiration for tiny creatures who have the prowess to build webs in the most inconvenient places for many, including their intended prey. I don't like walking into webs; vulnerable prey for said spiders is too often caught before they know what hit them. As is explained in the opening quote.
Receiving this book a few days ago was a welcome surprise. It is absolutely outstanding for its design and for the information provided to anyone who has an abiding interest in nature's creatures. Kudos to thames & hudson for providing the tactile sensations of the webs for those who share it. Readers will want to take the time to be awed by the embossing on many of the book's pages, to follow the web lines, and to see the 13 different webs that spiders weave. What a remarkable learning experience!
Opening pages explain why spiders build webs, what spiders eat, and the benefits that spiders provide for our world. Three to four paragraphs of relevant facts are presented alongside the attention-getting artwork which covers each of the double-page spreads. Habitats are evident in the backgrounds of most spreads. The data includes the webs themselves, the spiders, their silk, and the ways they construct the webs and use them to capture prey. Orb webs are the most common; others are expertly described including those weavers that decorate their webs. Most are complex and serve various purposes. Many are used as traps, while others provide camouflage and support.
If, as you come to the end of the book you long to learn even more, there are pages in back matter to describe how webs are built, the anatomy of a spider, the ways in which spiders spin the different types of silk, a spotter's guide that will take readers back for a closer look, a glossary, an index, and a list of sources.
This book is impressive and enlightening from first page to last.
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