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Comments & ID Thoughts
For several years I have been trying to learn the species I encountered on Nov 1 2016. Is there anyone on this forum who knows?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzbL3ScEz5E
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Jan 24, 2019
- Photographed: Nov 1, 2016
- Spider: Unidentified
- Location: Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States
- Spotted Outdoors: Desert area
- Found in web?: Yes
- Attributes:
Hi, that is a good question. I haven’t found any mention online of what species balloon or kite in the Grand Canyon. That may mean that it was multiple species. Most small kinds of spiders have hatchlings that can balloon. The trigger to do it all together appears to be in the Earth’s electrical currents and wind currents. The spiders’ bodies are covered in sensory hairs that feel pressure and movement and have chemoreceptors (taste, smell). The wind and electric charge cause the hairs to rise and that causes spiderlings to adopt the kiting posture and release silk at the… Read more »
I have found a remarkable number of helium balloons in the canyon over the years. There is some geographic/atmospheric funnel effect about the place that concentrates floating objects. We first noticed the number of floating webs in the late morning, and they grew steadily thicker through the day. These observations support a theory of spiderlings from a wide area, (and possibly wide variety) being concentrated. There were however, no “spider rains” the day before or after this event. The following day the sky was clear. It really did seem more like a Mayfly event. Modest efforts to learn more about… Read more »