How spiderweb glue makes it difficult for prey to escape

London, June 20 (ANI): Apart from being sticky, spiderweb glue has elasticity like chewing gum, which makes it difficult for the prey to escape.

The finding is based on a research conducted by Ali Dhinojwala of the University of Akron in Ohio, reports New Scientist.

He used microscopic probes to test beads of glue on an orb spider's web and found that elasticity was key.

Dhinojwala calculated that the combination of sticky and stretchy makes the glue 100 times stronger than previously thought.

The glue was stickier when the probe was pulled away quickly, and more elastic when it was pulled slowly.

Spiders capitalise on this: the web is stickiest when prey slams into it.

As the trapped prey struggles to escape, the glue becomes more elastic to absorb its slowed movements.

The study has been published in Nature Communications. (ANI)