You’ve probably all seen silk webbing in the ridges of tree bark.  It could be a spider’s web, or it could’ve been made by the elusive and shy insects called webspinners in the Order Embiidina.  These small insects spend their entire lives in silken galleries they create from special glands on their front tarsi.  Join us in exploring the hidden world of these little creatures.  They are unique among insects in many ways, and we bring their bizarre world to light in this video produced for Texas A&M University’s Department of Entomology.  Keep an eye out for a special trick the male has up his wings!

 

Many thanks to Alison Bockoven of www.6legs2many.wordpress.com for the webspinner photo!

 

Order Embiidina: Webspinners from Bug Chicks on Vimeo.