Massive ‘Communal’ Spider Webs Emerge in Dallas Suburb

“At the time, the discovery of the web was more than creepy – it was a revelation to many arachnologists – spider experts”, he said. The arrangement of these webs is quite surreal as far as quality is concerned.

A giant spider web in Texas has been causing the creeps among motorists and residents driving through CA Roan Drive in Rowlett lately. A phenomenon similar to this was reported in 2007 and it occurred almost 35 miles way from Rowlett, at Lake Tawakoni State Park. This eerie web, as it has been described by some, is hanging on a few trees on this route and it certainly isn’t the work of Spiderman.

Scientists do not clearly know how the spiders build those massive webs, but the scientists believe that a spider belonging in the Tetragnathidae family could be responsible for the surprising site.

“Someone stepping off the road for a closer look will see thousands of lanky spiders darting among the webs that extend up to 40 feet into the trees”, says Mike Merchant, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service urban entomologist in a press release.

A team of scientists at Texas A & M University (TAMU) have recently commented on a giant “communal” spider webs they have found around Dallas. According to experts, one of the factors that comprised the so-called “right condition” is the over presence of midges and other small insects that appear from lakes during the night. Arachnologists, those who study spiders, jump at the chance to study these rare webs, “because spiders typically work alone to construct their webs”, Merchant told TAMU AgriLife. It is compulsory to have food to form this kind of webs.

Fortunately, while undeniably freaky, the ginormous webs’ occupants aren’t a danger to humans and are essentially harmless, Merchant said. The spiders appeared to have engaged in this communal project to foster cooperation between their species.

Vogtsberger says, “What is really interesting about these spider aggregations is the lack of aggression among spiders of the same species on the same web”.

And if you’re courageous enough to get out of your auto?

“These types of spiders are unusual in that they are not aggressive to other spiders of the same species on the same web”, he said. “But please don’t touch the art”.