Flying Spiders: Where They Live

Flying spiders? Yes, you read that right. If you have arachnophobia – fear of spiders – flying spiders can be like a nightmare. Social media influencers have tried to convince viewers that flying spiders will soon invade their backyards. What are flying spiders? Are there flying spiders? Where do flying spiders live?

What are flying spiders?

Are there flying spiders? The simple answer is yes. But that’s not what Twitter and Facebook might have made you believe.

The so-called flying spider, also called gray cruciform spider or bridge spider, is scientifically classified as Larinioides sclopetarius. This is a large spider-weaving ball, that is, it weaves a round web. It was first discovered in 1757.

What do flying spiders look like?

Flying spiders are mostly brown or gray in color with dark and light markings on the abdomen. The legs are bordered in brown and cream. The belly is large and round, while the cephalothorax or head is small in comparison.

The body length of the spider is from 9 to 14 mm, and the diameter of its web reaches 70 cm. Adult spiders weigh from 38 to 60 mg, and the females are almost twice as large as males. Males do not usually weave their own nets, but live in females’ nets to steal the prey that the females have caught.

Where do flying spiders live?

Flying spiders are Holarctic, which means they inhabit habitats across all northern continents – North America, Europe and Asia. In North America, flying spiders are common around the Great Lakes, but they can be found throughout the United States.

They are attracted to man-made objects such as buildings and bridges. Hence they received the general name “bridge spider”. They are also often found near the water, including on boats. They traveled by boat to many isolated islands.

Flying spider webs often gather around lighting fixtures. The light attracts prey insects, which in turn attract spiders.

In some cities, up to 100 flying spiders can be found on one square meter. During the day they hide, and at night they wait for prey in the center of their web. They can be found during the warmer months, from early spring to November. In America, they are most often seen from May to August.

In the city of Chicago, USA, residents of some high-rise buildings were asked not to open their windows during May. This is because spiders are known to migrate through balloons at the time. This natural cycle is called the “Chicago Phenomenon.”

Why are they called flying spiders?

Contrary to popular belief, flying spiders are not spider mutants with wings. There are no spiders with wings or flying in the traditional sense of the word. Their name comes from a form of travel called hot air ballooning. The spider releases silk threads in the wind, using them as a “balloon” to carry the spider through the air.

The flying spider is not the only species to exhibit this behavior. You may remember the spiders from classic children’s books and movies. Charlotte’s network flying away on silk strands. Many crab spiders do the same thing too.

Do flying spiders fly all the time? No, it’s not. They spend their days hiding and nights protecting their nets, waiting to eat any insects they catch. Spiders take off or fly only when they need to travel to a new feeding area. This can happen when there are fewer insects in an area, or when there is a lot of competition from other spiders.

Will a flying spider sit on you? Probably no. Spiders are carried away by the wind; they cannot control their flight. If someone landed on you, it would be a simple accident. It probably won’t last long. Rather, it will fall to the ground or fly again in search of the perfect home.

Are flying spiders poisonous?

All spiders have venom with which they immobilize their prey. However, flying spiders are unlikely to bite people, even if they live in large numbers near human dwellings. Spiders can bite if they feel threatened, for example, if you disturb their cobwebs or try to hold them in your hand. If bitten, their venom will be less potent than that of a honey bee, sometimes compared to a mosquito bite. Bites heal quickly and usually do not require medical attention.

Will there be an invasion of flying spiders?

The simple answer to this question is no, there will be no invasion of flying spiders. Flying spiders have lived in the Northern Hemisphere for countless centuries. If you happen to see a flying spider where you live, chances are, he and his ancestors were there all the time.

If you live in Chicago or another area where the “spider phenomenon” is observed, the appearance of spiders blown away by the wind will not last long. Even when spiders land, they simply build cobwebs near streetlights or on window sills. They will not invade your home like in a horror movie.

Flying spiders are territorial too; they are not social spiders. They can build webs next to each other, but females will not allow other females to enter their webs. This territoriality limits the number of flying spiders that can inhabit the territory.

There are also natural predators that help control the population of flying spiders. Scott the fly is calling Phalacrotophora epeirae feeds on eggs of a flying spider. In southern Europe, a hunting wasp called Trypoxylon attuatum preys on adult spiders. It paralyzes the spider, returns it to its nest, and lays an egg inside the spider’s body. After hatching, the wasp larvae feed on the spider.

What are some interesting facts about flying spiders?

• Each flying spider lives for about one and a half years. During this time, a female spider can produce 15 egg sacs. Female spiders can eat male spiders if other insects are scarce.
• Flying spiders are more active than some other spiders and enjoy exploring new areas. This could have led to them becoming so common in cities scattered across a large area of ​​the world.
• Male flying spiders can biologically transform into females if there are few females in the population. This is called protandry.

Conclusion

Flying spiders have nothing to fear. They exhibit amazing behaviors that make them unique in the animal kingdom. If you see a flying spider or a group of them, like in the “Chicago Phenomenon”, take a close look, because there is no reason to be afraid.

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