Posted on 08/30/2007 2:44:49 PM PDT by Orange1998
WILLS POINT — 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.
Used to see that every late summer in Paw Paw, Michigan.
Have a local wine and relax.
Ha LOL I know all about those too. Although since I moved back into the city from the country I haven’t had any in the house and no snakes either except outside.
I used to have to shake out my shoes before putting them on and no barefootin in the house. :)
My spiders seem to wake up real early.
As long as I wait until daylight, I can see them. :)
My daughter needs to see this. If you hear a sheek that carries to the next continent, that will be her.
That's what I thought.
If it catches mosquitoes, I want one, though.
Ha ha LOL..leave it to the Canadians to come up with that.
“There are times you can literally hear the screech of millions of mosquitoes caught in those webs.” “
Thanks everybody, for all the pictures. I may get to sleep sometime next year.
Gotta agree sam, though Spidey gives me the willies too. I, do, on the other hand enjoy the company of our legless reptile FRiends. And their presence can also cause the ‘flamethrower, napalm, Shoot-em!!!! response.
Both of them have their purpose. I do not tolerate spiders in the house, but, when possible, I puth them out rather than kill them.
The hell they won't!
I got bit by a brown recluse a couple years ago. Antibiotics and steroids to get rid of the infection, swelling, etc.
Be NICE to them. They are our FRiends
Are they saying "Help me!" ? ;o)
Man that thing IS creepy. Just how big are the spiders that inhabit it; Sheelob sized?
Nasty little Hobbitses
Dang, Now THAT is funny...... and maybe creepy. That one might not be put outside alive
If the webs are full of mosquitoes. I’d say those spiders knew they’d be lots of mosquitoes due to all the rainfall the area has had. Lots of food to feast on for the spiders. Again nature stepping up to the plate and killing off all the excessive mosquitoe population.
what kind of spider is that.... I have them all over my yard..We call them Charlie
Thanks! Now how am I going to sleep tonight. LOL.
Ok. Brown recluse, yeah. Scorpions, too.
Scorpions seem to be angry reincarnations of bad, bad DUmmies.
Those critters have zero redeeming qualities.
I think tarantulas are just creepy as well, because I’ve seen them haul butt before....they can move like a bat-outta-hell, so it’s distrubing to see them move so slow, like they’re trying to lull ya!
Now, the fuzzy little black garden spiders, and/or the little hopping fellas...they’re just like those little furry things in Star Wars that tried to roast Han solo. The eewoks?
They’re fun little fellas. Just wanderin around checkin you out. You kinda feint at them and they get all scared and hide behind astick like a child that thinks you disappear when they close their eyes.
But I like all spiders better than flies and mosquitos.
“And that ain’t what it takes to luv me.......
HH ping to #91.
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