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.
Sauron (I've been to Mirkwood, btw. Dol Guldur. Got chased out by this whole upstart Council of the Wise. Temporary setback--I'll return!)
More legs than a chorus line...
I don’t like them on me. But as long as they stay off, I figure any spider in my house only has to eat like one bug a day and he earned his keep.
Except this year I’ve seen about 5 GIANT Hobo spiders. They’re in spider heaven now, a bite from them might not kill you but it could be dang nasty for a while.
It took 24 replies before the obvious was mentioned ... this is an X File if ever there was one.
In Houston this year I have seen larger spiders than usual. I have others point this out to me and sure enough spider webs are larger and the spiders are huge this year.
Didn’t some enviroweenies get lashed to a tree...and desicated...
spooky spider web ping!
Next time I inhabit Dol Guldur, I'll be back TO STAY.
Sauron
EWWW!
Looks like the final scene from the William Shatner movie, “Kingdom of the Spiders.”
Bookmarking.
This web was first found about three weeks prior to the photo and has been spreading slowly. It's out on a point by the lake, probably less than 50 yards from the water. It continues along the park's nature trail for some 200 yards!
Paging Delbert McClintock, Please pick up the courtesy phone.
Now you know what happens to spiders when you water them...
That’s what I run into every time I cross my yard in the dark!
WOW! That’s actually pretty cool. I could see that creating arachnophobia in some people though.
I knew a lady who would absolutely Freak Out when spiders are near. I mean Freak Out.
They are cannibals...Feeding down there must be really good if they aren’t eating each other.
I don’t get why people “HATE” spiders. I don’t want any bug crawling on me, but if they’re small or “Daddy Long Legs,” I don’t mind them at all. I live in a brick home in the woods and we have big time spiders. I’ve even seen my hubby jump a few feet in the air before - we’re talking jumbo here.
But, I don’t HATE them. Now, flies, on the other hand, I HATE them. HATE THEM.
LOL! I see you found this thread without my ping : )
ewwww.. don’t go near your trees!
The other obvious remarks.
Global Warming
Now we know where the bees went
Bush is to blame.
We’re all gonna die.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.