Dr.John Stoffolano, Prof. Dept. of Entomology

Vision Multimedia, Inc.

worldwidewebconsulting.com

Marc Dionne, Academic Computing - University of Massachusetts

	FOR YOUR INFORMATION: The insect order Embiidina (=Embioptera), or more commonly known as webspinners, is a small group of insects (i.e., about 2,000 species worldwide). They are found mainly in the tropics with about 9 species found in southern United States. Both sexes, immatures, as well as adults, spin silken tunnels from secretions of silk glands located in the tarsi of the front legs or forelegs. Ed Ross of the California Academy of Science is a specialist on this insect group and has given permission to use his excellent photograph of an adult webspinner.
	The fore tarsus of the webspinners is modified to produce and secrete silk. The liquid silk comes out of the silk ejectors, which are located on the ventral surface of tarsal segment III. The silk gland contains sbout 200 syncytial cells and is functional throughout the life of the insect.
	Photograph taken through a compound microscope showing a webspinner that has been stained with a red dye. Notice the enlarged third segment of the tarsus.
	Photograph showing the white-colored silken webbed tunnels in which the webspinners live (courtesy of Dr. Ross).

For more information on the webspinner insect group, please check this LINK.

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