That's alot of Spiders!!

*Raph's Girl* · 09-01-2007, 01:31 AM

I saw this on the news earlier... man that's freaky!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/30/spi....ap/index.html

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.
art.web.ap.jpg

Lake Tawokoni State Park rangers Mike McCord, left, and Freddie Gowin check out a giant spider web at the 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. Video Watch people marvel at size of web »

"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.
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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.
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"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.

Here's a link to see the video footage of it.. oi!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/30/spi...st#cnnSTCVideo

*Deathknight* · 09-01-2007, 07:34 AM

Oh my god that web is friggen huge. What kind of spider can possibly make a web that big?

OA · 09-01-2007, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deathknight

Oh my god that web is friggen huge. What kind of spider can possibly make a web that big?

Well, if that web was made by only 1 spider, I think mankind would be in a heap of trouble....spiders in general are not extremely social but the thought of this kind of cooperation is pretty impressive...

Either that, or this was just a good spot for catching flies and none of them wanted to go anywhere else!

*Scandia* · 09-01-2007, 09:38 AM

Curiously, I had a dream about a spider last night. It was red and shiny metallic. Probably closest to a tarantula- but not hairy, it looked almost like a toy. It jumped onto me. I am not arachnophobic, but I woke up brushing it off my face.

*Buslady* · 09-01-2007, 11:59 AM

This web building cooperation could simply be an evolutionary advance in whatever spider species it is, cos most spiders are anti-social. they've leaned a whole group could eat well if they made a huge web all over the place. I think it's way cool.

mattmanw54301 · 09-01-2007, 05:39 PM

about a year ago i heard about a web like this in Canada which covered an entire field. There were intersecting layers which in total were almost 4 feet deep. Amazing stuff.

*Drtooth* · 09-04-2007, 12:16 PM

Considering I'm slightly afraid of spiders.... I wanna puke RIGHT NOW!

*Mars-Chan* · 09-06-2007, 02:19 PM

Charlotte A. Cavaticca would be proud...

*Tinuvielsdreams* · 09-12-2007, 07:29 PM

***Shudders*** and to think...I was afraid to go down in my basement because of a few spiders

09-01-2007, 01:31 AM	#1
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	That's alot of Spiders!! I saw this on the news earlier... man that's freaky! http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/30/spi....ap/index.html 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. art.web.ap.jpg Lake Tawokoni State Park rangers Mike McCord, left, and Freddie Gowin check out a giant spider web at the 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. Video Watch people marvel at size of web » "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. Don't Miss 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. advertisement "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. Here's a link to see the video footage of it.. oi! http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/30/spi...st#cnnSTCVideo __________________

09-01-2007, 07:34 AM	#2
Deathknight Mad Scientist Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: One of the 972 rooms of the technodrome Posts: 1,995	Oh my god that web is friggen huge. What kind of spider can possibly make a web that big? __________________ Shredder: "Ninja hall of fame? Ha! Where's MY statue?!" -My Brother, the Bad Guy

09-01-2007, 09:38 AM	#4
Scandia Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,265	Curiously, I had a dream about a spider last night. It was red and shiny metallic. Probably closest to a tarantula- but not hairy, it looked almost like a toy. It jumped onto me. I am not arachnophobic, but I woke up brushing it off my face. __________________ Turtles fight with honor!!!

09-01-2007, 11:59 AM	#5
Buslady WingsOfDarkness! Perkele! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In 7803... Posts: 4,366	This web building cooperation could simply be an evolutionary advance in whatever spider species it is, cos most spiders are anti-social. they've leaned a whole group could eat well if they made a huge web all over the place. I think it's way cool. __________________

09-04-2007, 12:16 PM	#7
Drtooth Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,439	Considering I'm slightly afraid of spiders.... I wanna puke RIGHT NOW! __________________ [Insert mildly amusing banner here]

09-01-2007, 05:39 PM	#6
mattmanw54301 Foot Soldier Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 182	about a year ago i heard about a web like this in Canada which covered an entire field. There were intersecting layers which in total were almost 4 feet deep. Amazing stuff.

09-06-2007, 02:19 PM	#8
Mars-Chan I'LL BE THE HERO!!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Practicing Alchemy in Risembool Posts: 6,297	Charlotte A. Cavaticca would be proud... __________________ clings to award THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! cries in joy RED DAAAAAAAAAAAAWWN!!!! PROUD Member of the Risembool Rangers! (icon made by bakergirl69 on glitter-graphics)

09-12-2007, 07:29 PM	#9
Tinuvielsdreams Nothing without passion Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,722	*Shudders* and to think...I was afraid to go down in my basement because of a few spiders