Due to their uniquely high surface-to-volume ratio, nanofibers are a desired material for
various technical applications. However, this surface-to-volume ratio also makes processing
difficult as van der Waals forces cause nanofibers to adhere to virtually any surface. The
cribellate spider Uloborus plumipes represents a biomimetic paragon for this problem: these
spiders integrate thousands of nanofibers into their adhesive capture threads. A comb on
their hindmost legs, termed calamistrum, enables the spiders to process the nanofibers …

Due to their uniquely high surface-to-volume ratio, nanofibers are a desired material for
various technical applications. However, this surface-to-volume ratio also makes processing
difficult as van der Waals forces cause nanofibers to adhere to virtually any surface. The
cribellate spider Uloborus plumipes represents a biomimetic paragon for this problem: these
spiders integrate thousands of nanofibers into their adhesive capture threads. A comb on
their hindmost legs, termed calamistrum, enables the spiders to process the nanofibers …