MadSci Network: Zoology
Query:

Re: Early in the morning, I have noticed a lot of small spider webs.

Date: Wed Mar 17 11:04:55 2004
Posted By: David Richman, Staff, Entomology
Area of science: Zoology
ID: 1079488530.Zo
Message:

Depending on your area these may be the sheet webs of spiders in the 
families Hahniidae or Agelenidae.  The Agelenidae are araneomorph 
funnelweb spiders (not to be confused with the dangerous Sydney funnelweb 
tarantula), but the funnel part of their sheet webs may not be easily seen 
in young individuals.  Both Hahniidae and Agelenidae commonly build their 
sheet webs in meadows or fields. The webs are often very delicate and not 
easily visible unless covered with dew.  However, dew will reveal hundreds 
or even thousands of tiny webs that were never suspected to exist before!  
You can get a similar effect by puffing fine corn starch on an area 
suspected to have webs.

Reference:

Comstock, J. H. (edited by W. J. Gertsch). 1940.  The Spider Book.Cornell 
University Press, Ithaca, NY, 729 p.  


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