Tag Archives: Lake Tawakoni

Giant spider web diminished

Thanks to winds and rain, the giant web that stretched two hundred yards at Lake Tawakoni in northeast Texas back in August is only six percent of its previous size, but scientists are still interested in studying the apparent social effort of thousands of spiders–principally long-jawed orb weavers–which are normally canabalistic rather than cooperative. We can only hope they’re not evolving in some unpleasant new way. But, just in case, I plan to start being nicer to the ones I see around the rancho.

The web on the Web

It’s a chilling reminder of Aragog, the giant, man-threatening spider of Hogwarts, but entomologists say the giant web on a nature trail at Lake Tawakoni State Park in northeast Texas is more likely the communal effort of ordinary-sized spiders. But who knew ordinary spiders were into communal efforts?