A Spectacular Sea of Spiderwebs Found In East Gippsland in Victoria Australia
The residents of East Gippsland in Victoria have found themselves surrounded by a sea of silk created by eight-legged spiders.
The residents of East Gippsland in Victoria have found themselves surrounded by a sea of silk created by eight-legged spiders.
The storm that hit southeast Australia had resulted in massive flooding.
The water has receded however residents are witnessing a spectacular phenomenon called ‘Ballooning’ where vast sheets of spider webs have covered almost everything in its path.
The webs can be seen on roadsides, poles, road signs, trees, plants, grasslands, and in all tall structures.
Parts of #Gippsland are covered in #spider web??!! The little black dots are spiders. There is web as far as the eye can see. This is near Longford #Victoria thanks Carolyn Crossley for the video pic.twitter.com/wcAOGU9ZTu
— πΌππ π·πππ (@mim_cook) June 15, 2021
The spiders created the webs, days before the rains to protect themselves. They follow this process so that they can reach higher ground which is a survival technique.
Dr. Ken Walker, an entomologist at Museums Victoria explained that these spiders need to get off the ground very quickly and thus create these nets that catch onto vegetation through which they can escape.
Prof. Dieter Hochuli, an ecologist from the University of Sydney told CNN affiliate 7News that the web of spider silk is not a surprise given the weather conditions.
“This is a surprisingly common phenomenon after floods,” he said.
“When we get these types of very heavy rains and flooding, these animals who spend their lives cryptically on the ground can't live there anymore, and do exactly what we try to do -- they move to the higher ground,” he added.
The Australian Museum’s website states that the phenomenon involves spiders “ascending to a high point on foliage and letting out fine silk lines that catch the breeze and eventually gain enough lift to waft the spider up and away.”
When thousands of spiders get involved in the process, it results in a carpet of silk called Gossamer that can go on to cover fields.
The recent storms have created havoc in Victoria. Hundreds of homes remain without power. At least two people have lost their lives due to the floodwaters. Relief work is underway in the affected areas.