First it was the wasp...

Invictus ChiKen · Post by **Invictus ChiKen** » 2007-08-31 12:14am

WILLS POINT, Texas - Entomologists are debating the origin and rarity of a sprawling spider web that blankets several trees, shrubs and the ground along a 200-yard stretch of trail in a North Texas park.

Officials at Lake Tawakoni State Park say the massive mosquito trap is a big attraction for some visitors, while others won't go anywhere near it.

"At first, it was so white it looked like fairyland," said Donna Garde, superintendent of the park about 45 miles east of Dallas. "Now it's filled with so many mosquitoes that it's turned a little brown. There are times you can literally hear the screech of millions of mosquitoes caught in those webs."

Spider experts say the web may have been constructed by social cobweb spiders, which work together, or could be the result of a mass dispersal in which the arachnids spin webs to spread out from one another.

"I've been hearing from entomologists from Ohio, Kansas, British Columbia — all over the place," said Mike Quinn, an invertebrate biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department who first posted photos online.

Herbert A. "Joe" Pase, a Texas Forest Service entomologist, said the massive web is very unusual.

"From what I'm hearing it could be a once-in-a-lifetime event," he said.

But John Jackman, a professor and extension entomologist for Texas A&M University, said he hears reports of similar webs every couple of years.

"There are a lot of folks that don't realize spiders do that," said Jackman, author of "A Field Guide to the Spiders and Scorpions of Texas."

"Until we get some samples sent to us, we really won't know what species of spider we're talking about," Jackman said.

Garde invited the entomologists out to the park to get a firsthand look at the giant web.

"Somebody needs to come out that's an expert. I would love to see some entomology intern come out and study this," she said.

Park rangers said they expect the web to last until fall, when the spiders will start dying off.

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Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2007-08-31 01:59am

Communal animals in general are cool...and if these are actually communal spiders, even if they're not strictly a 'swarm' type, this is definitely even cooler than the species of shrimp that lives in hives inside of sponges.

Glass Pearl Player · Post by **Glass Pearl Player** » 2007-08-31 12:33pm

Short Article with image.
Response A:
I, for one, welcome our arachnid overlords.
Response B:
I definitely dislike spiders. Hand me the flamethrower already.

The video in the original article doesn't work for me, it can only be viewed in certain areas. On the other hand, I am not to keen on seeing
that many spiders.

How could such a large population emerge in one small spot, why was it such a good year for breeding spiders?

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2007-08-31 12:40pm

Hah, the spiders have constructed the Arachnid Death Star!

"Suddenly, millions of misquito voices had cried out, then were silenced."

chitoryu12 · Post by **chitoryu12** » 2007-08-31 03:19pm

Did I mention I have minor arachnophobia?

Darth Lucifer · Post by **Darth Lucifer** » 2007-08-31 03:24pm

Next thing you know they'll be hurling asteroids into outer space.

Azazal · Post by **Azazal** » 2007-08-31 04:03pm

This web isn't near the old Daniel's farm is it?
Quick, call John Goodman!!

Tahlan · Post by **Tahlan** » 2007-08-31 04:04pm

Glass Pearl Player wrote:Short Article with image.
How could such a large population emerge in one small spot, why was it such a good year for breeding spiders?

It's been a wet year in Texas, I mean, for crying out loud our lawns are still green! Haven't seen that in 17 years of living here. Mosquitos and flies are rampant/legion. As well as crickets and cicadas and all sorts of little bugs. Not surprising that some arachnids stepped up to the chow line...big time.

Zor · Post by **Zor** » 2007-09-01 04:29am

It would be nice if these spiders can take the cold so someone would introduce these spiders in winnipeg so that the city would not have to release so much fogging, but it would drive my little sister insane.

Zor

Majin Gojira · Post by **Majin Gojira** » 2007-09-01 08:45am

Isn't there already a species of spider that is known for communal living in indonesia?

Still cool, but not unprecidented IIRC.

Ritterin Sophia · Post by **Ritterin Sophia** » 2007-09-01 08:53am

Zor wrote:but it would drive my little sister insane.

Zor

I thought little sisters were naturally insane:?:

Lonestar · Post by **Lonestar** » 2007-09-01 09:09am

Everything is bigger in Texas.

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2007-09-01 12:59pm

Tahlan wrote:
Glass Pearl Player wrote:Short Article with image.
How could such a large population emerge in one small spot, why was it such a good year for breeding spiders?
It's been a wet year in Texas, I mean, for crying out loud our lawns are still green! Haven't seen that in 17 years of living here. Mosquitos and flies are rampant/legion. As well as crickets and cicadas and all sorts of little bugs. Not surprising that some arachnids stepped up to the chow line...big time.

Yes we have had the most insane summer here in Texas. So far we have had 4 days this summer above 95 degrees. Compare that to last year where at this point we had 81 days.

And all this rain has driven all the insects insane, we seem to be going through phases and phases of this or that insect being in insane numbers due to this rain.