Cobwebs gather dust because the abandoned silk threads stay slightly sticky indoors.

The longer version

Dust clings to abandoned webs because threads stay slightly tacky long after the builder has gone. Silk is adhesive to begin with even where no capture droplets sit, and indoors no rain washes it clean, so airborne particles settle and build up gradually.

Static attraction between dry silk and lightweight particles adds to the effect, filling webs in sheltered corners with fluff sooner than exposed ones outdoors. Air moving through a room carries fibres, skin flakes, and soil grains past the threads, each catching on contact. A neglected web becomes visible mainly through what has stuck to it.

Where this entry sits

This collection gathers small wonders from the world of ants, bees, butterflies, beetles, and spiders. Expect surprising details about swarms, silk, and metamorphosis, plus the strange everyday abilities of creatures small enough to fit on a fingertip. The full list sits on the Insects and Spiders page, where every entry is listed in order.