Photoreflectance/scattering measurements of spider silks informed by standard optics.

ABSTRACT: The silks of certain orb weaving spiders are emerging as high-quality optical materials. This motivates study of the optical properties of such silk and particularly the comparative optical properties of the silks of different species. Any differences in optical properties may impart biological advantage for a spider species and make the silks interesting for biomimetic prospecting as optical materials. A prior study of the reflectance of spider silks from 18 species reported results for three species of modern orb weaving spiders (Nephila clavipes, Argiope argentata and Micrathena Schreibersi) as having reduced reflectance in the UV range. (Modern in the context used here means more recently derived.) The reduced UV reflectance was interpreted as an adaptive advantage in mak

SUBMITTER: Blamires SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7211891 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature