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Tue 18 Apr, 2006 11:39 am
2 days ago, I saw the coolest thing in the back yard.
It was a white puff shower of spiders.
Dozens, if not more, were riding the breeze on their backs.
It looked like small bits of stuffing or pollens blowing around in the yard.
I went outside to see where it was coming from and saw that it was small, clear , tiny spiders floating down from the tree tops.
Strange, they were probally no bigger then the end of a pencil eraser with their legs spread out, but there were so many of them , the shower was visible from inside the house.
This went on for a couple of hours.
Spiders usually bother me, but I was outside standing in the middle of it watching them just float away.
They were belly up, with their legs curled to their stomachs just floating along.
They would hit the ground, roll over and climb up to the tallest blade of grass, or under a flower peddle and hide. Sitting really still for the longest time.
Today, we go outside to play and while Bean is in her pool, I start looking at the blades of grass and flowers, and see ittybitty little egg sacks attached to the underside of the blades.
Really ....... really neat.
Any clue what kind of spider does this?
Fascinating. I have no idea what kind of spiders they are, but I would be awestruck as well.
It was the neatest thing.
I have never seen spiders "fly"
It only happened that one day. I have not seen it again.
If this is a yearly activity, I missed it last year, and will watch for it next year.
They do such every year - twice, at springtime and in autumn.
It's called "balooning".
A photo from a local nature group from nearby of young spiders just before they start to "fly"
How cool!
the ones I saw had no color to them though?
Do the ones you posted lose thier coloring as adults?
What are they called?
Ah, Walter beat me to it...
I've never seen it, but that's what it's called.
When they hatch they don't stick around, they balloon off to make their way in this world. I think yours were clear because they were so young.
Can you imagine Bean ballooning away?
Weeeeeee!
I've no idea about spiders - just knew that some kinds are "flying" and when looking through the news on the web, I found that photo (with a long article in German).
These spiders are the (German variation of)
orb-weaver spiders. (At least, both carry the same Latin name :wink: )
We have >
these< all over the place.
They love the big cactus in the front yard.
I wonder if I saw thier babies floating away..
that would make sense. There is not a day that goes by that I do not see several of these crab-like spiders some where.
that is a bit intimidating..
tree tops covered with web?
The young spider lets out a line or lines of silk on a breezy day. When the tug on its body is just right it let go of the plant and disperses in the air. It's a much safer way than crawling down the plant and across the ground.
Didn't you see Charlottes Web?
The baby spiders in the movie do that.
I sure did...
well.. no ****.
this aint so 'uncommon' after all.
And here I thought I witnessed some nature miracle
>whew<
saved me from huggin that there tree you did...
Lady Diane, on her way to vespers, comes across shewolf communing with nature.
It's still a "miracle of nature." Even though (shudder) I can't stand spiders, I appreciate their contributions to nature. But, you Won't find me kissing one!
What?! You wouldn't kiss this guy?
that is a cool picture
if it didnt look like it was about to jump through my computer screen
@shewolfnm,
I know I'd freak the hell out if I saw a large group of "flying" spiders....
Isn't this the first sign of the Apocalypse? And this thread is over six years old. Thusly the next sign of the Apocalypse is taking its glacially slow sweet time coming.
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