Kitchen Garden Forum

When I looked out of our back windows Sunday morning I was astonished to see five single strand spiders' webs, each like diamond necklaces with the dew. What was remarkable was that they hung from the quince tree to the washing line, at least 20 feet! I've never seen them that far before.
There was no wind, so how did they make that journey. Yomp across the grass with their little web packs on their backs? And what was their purpose - single strands would hardly catch many insects?
John N

Dear JohnN, i think you will find that Bats are the answer to your puzzle.
They pick the spiders up trailing a silver thread as they go, but as the bats are carrying them the spiders tickle, making the bats drop them.

Quite simple really.

Oh dear, OH...
You are batting me about ...aren't you?
Er, where do the spiders tickle the bats? Under the wings?

I'm not sure John, but i suppose it depends on how long the spiders legs are, to where they can reach to tickle.

Seems to be a little more complicated than i first thought.

sometime ago i watched a spider program on the box , never realised before the diversity of web types and hunting technique, cant remember them well enough togo into any detail though. i think the long strands are made by tiny spiders who lauch themselves into the air and are blown/float till they hit something else. i cant remember if the single strand is the start of something bigger or just sticky to catch something very small . ...

Coming back one winter from Settle to Long Preston we passed many fields just covered with what looked like gossamer. It was really beautiful and they glinted in the sunlight. We were so curious to find out what they were that we stopped the car and walked into a field to have a look. They were hundreds and hundreds of single spider threads blowing in the breeze. It was very beautiful. Not seen it in the last two years. I think the weather has something to do with it.

If anyone was watching Big Cat Live last week they would have seen the same thing on the screen in Africa.

Do you know, Catherine, I remember that, too. It was on both sides of the A65 and we thought it was absolutely beautiful. It must have been just the right light and weather conditions for it to be so noticeable!

This time of the year there is, of course, a lot of gossamer about and sometimes it catches you in the face when you are walking along.

Hi Catherine,
It happens here when spring ploughing is done. There comes a time when every furrow is covered with spiders webs and if the morning happens to be sunny after a heavy dew, the whole field look like a lake and they certainly are very memorable.
JB.

A picture of the webs on a plouged field HERE