silk gland
Web-producing body part
A silk gland is an organ in certain insects and arachnids that produces the protein filaments used to spin silk.
Spiders use silk glands to create webs and egg sacs; silkworms produce the cocoons harvested for textile silk.
The glands secrete liquid protein that hardens into thread when exposed to air.
- cocoonSilk wrapping for transformation
- spinneretSilk-producing appendage
- secretionSubstance released by glands
- mothNight-flying lepidopteran
- caterpillarMoth or butterfly young
fiber · thread · mulberry · mulberry leaf · larva · weaving · gossamer · protein · loom · chrysalis · extrusion · lustrous · textile · metamorphosis · spinning · delicate · shimmering · filament
- insect glands
- insect developmentlarva, pupa, chrysalis, cocoon, metamorphosis
- sericulturesilkworms, cocoons, cocoon, mulberry, mulberry leaves
- invertebrate anatomyantennae, exoskeleton, gills, ganglia, nerve cord
- silk productionspinneret, degumming, secretion
- spider silkgossamer, cobweb, spinnerets