SPIDER WEBS AS POLLEN TRAPS

In the orb webs of ascribellate spiders we found a large number of pol len grains which had been caught in the viscous circular threads. The plant species from which the pollen originated could be determined. Th e spectrum of the filtered pollen species is in agreement with the loc al pollen calender. Some pollen grains were found to have germinated w hich leads to the hypothesis that in recycling the silk, the spider mi ght also ingest the liquid content of the pollen grains.