The ultrastructure of silk-producing glands from the legs of the webspinner Embia tyrrhenica.

Human societies have long benefited from nature’s resources, obtaining compounds and materials that have transformed cultures and economies. Among these, the silk of Bombyx mori has emerged as a cornerstone of the global textile industry. In recent years, scientific attention has increasingly focused on spider silk, whose remarkable mechanical properties offer exciting potential. However, multiple animal species produce silk-like materials and most of these independent evolutions represent largely uncharted territory and an exciting avenue for new materials.
One such underexplored group is represented by webspinners, a small order of insects (Embioptera) whose silk production mechanisms remain largely unknown. This project aims to elucidate the molecular processes underlying silk production in Embioptera silk. This approach will advance our understanding of silk evolution and potential biotechnological applications.