Collecting Spider Webs
It is an easy task to make a collection of the orb webs of spiders and one doesn't do harm in nature in so doing. This was a fun task for the writer several years ago when the opportunity existed to spend some time at the lakeshore. Spider webs were profuse there and the preservation technique was suited for the conditions. When one examines an orb web the spider usually isn't there. If it does happen to be there it is easy to "shoo" it away by blowing air on it. The technique for web preservation is to purchase a can of flat spray paint (say, black) and stand back several inches from the web and give it a light spraying. Of course, one assumes that unintended objects will not be painted in the process. After the web has been sprayed in its entirety one carefully brings a sheet of white typewriter paper up to the web, from behind, and captures it. Orb webs are flat in nature and with care one can "plate out" the web with little distortion of the web's shape. After transfer of the web onto the paper the entire structure can be strengthened by spraying with clear plastic. After drying, the paper can be framed if so desired. The spider will probably have another web spun in the same place the next day.

A study can be made of the effects of different atmospheric conditions on the perfection of the spun web. For example, a web that is spun in a windy location will be found to be far from perfect in structure. The writer collected webs on the shore of Saginaw Bay, near Lake Huron, and the effect of winds on the uniformity of the web was quite evident.

The picture of the web shown above was obtained with some distortion being visible in the lower righthand corner when the web strings did not adhere to the paper as desired. This particular web is composed of strands so small that the overall web was not visible to the eye. The web was found by noticing the spider hanging, apparently, in mid air with no visble means of support. After blowing gently on the spider so that he moved off the web the area was sprayed lightly so that the orb became visible. This web was found in southern Ohio in the month of September.

References
1) C.L. Stong, "How to Collect and Preserve the Delicate Webs of Spiders," Scientific American, Feb 1963, pg 159.
2) John R. Saunders, Nature Crafts, Golden Press, New York, 1964, pg 38.
3) C.L. Stong, "The Joys of Culturing Spiders and Investigating Their Web," Scientific American, Dec 1972, pg 108.