Seasonal Change in Color of Spiders' Silk

Abstract

The optical properties of spiders' threads in different seasons were studied by optical reflectance in the range of wavelength from 400 to 700nm. It was found that the color of threads from female spiders Nephila clavata collected in the same area changed seasonally from white or semitransparent in summer to yellow in autumn according to the seasonal change in the environment This change in color was concluded to be ascribed to the seretions from the mature female spiders Nephila clavata and to play an important role not only in protecting spiders from predators but also in capturing preys.