Embioptera

Embioptera is an order of insects known as webspinners. They produce silk from glands in enlarged front feet and live in silken galleries.

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Tarsal silk glands: Silk-producing glands in the enlarged fore tarsi of webspinners. These glands let webspinners spin silk directly from their front feet.
Insect morphology: The study of the form and structure of insects. Webspinner anatomy is easiest to place among the standard parts of an insect body.
Insect sociality: The range of social behaviors and group living found among insects. Some webspinner species share galleries and show forms of family-based group living.
Spider web: A silk structure spun by spiders to capture prey, shelter, or support reproduction. Unlike spider webs, webspinner galleries are built by insects using silk from their feet.
Insect silk: Protein fibers spun by insects for structures such as cocoons, webs, and shelters. Webspinner silk is a distinctive use of a material also made by several other insect groups.
Insect metamorphosis: The developmental changes insects undergo between immature and adult stages. Webspinners develop gradually, with immature stages resembling small, wingless adults.
Subsociality: A social system in which parents care for offspring without forming a fully cooperative society. Maternal care and offspring staying in silk galleries occur in some webspinners.
Lepidoptera: An insect order comprising butterflies and moths, whose larvae produce silk from mouthpart-associated glands. Silkworms and webspinners both spin silk, but use different body structures and build different shelters.
Silk-spinning behavior: The production and placement of silk fibers by an animal to build or line a structure. Webspinners use repeated foot movements to line galleries with silk.
Insect exoskeleton: The external chitin-rich cuticle that supports and protects an insect's body. Webspinners must molt their exoskeleton as they grow within their silk shelters.