Spider silk spinning field, the spinneret apparatus of an adult "Araneus diadematus" (garden cross spider) consists of the glands shown below. Similar multiple gland architecture exists in the black widow spider. In order to artificially synthesise spider silk into fibres, there are two broad areas that must be covered. These are synthesis of the feedstock (the unspun silk dope in spiders), and synthesis of the spinning conditions (the funnel, valve, tapering duct, and spigot). There have been a number of different approaches. The molecular structure of unspun silk is both complex and extremely long. Though this endows the silk fibres with their
European nightcrawler and are pale yellow at first, becoming more brownish as the worms inside become mature. These cocoons are clearly visible to the naked eye. European nightcrawler The European nightcrawler, Eisenia hortensis or "Dendrobaena veneta", is a medium-small earthworm averaging about 1.5 grams each when fully grown. Generally blueish, pink-grey (cf. Latin "veneta" meaning "sea-blue") in color with a banded or striped appearance, the tips of their tails are often cream or pale yellow. When the species has not been feeding, it is pale pink. These worms are usually found in deep woodland litter and garden soils that are rich in