Largest web ever spun by single spider. : Othor Games

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:36 pm

A newly discovered species of spider living in Madagascar makes the world's longest known web, spanning 25m.

The spider also makes the largest orb web yet found for any spider, and constructs it out of the most tough bio-material yet known, say scientists.

Darwin's bark spider, a species new to science, weaves its huge web over flowing rivers, stretching from bank to bank.

It is so big that it can catch 30 or more prey insects at any one time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9001000/9001866.stm

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:03 pm

Pretty cool. I wonder how big the spider is. Off to Google.

EDIT:

Like other spiders of the genus, Darwin's bark spider displays extreme sixual dimorphism, with large females (18 mm) and small males (6 mm).[2]

from the wiki, in case anybody was curious.

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:07 pm

So lavish, he must be doing well for himself.

» Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:41 am

It's cool and all but old news is old.

Nearly a year old, lol.

» Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:33 am

He never claimed it was news.

» Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:32 am

He never claimed it was news.

At first I thought it was, but now I realize I was following links on the news site. :facepalm: The real news is a spider that hoists up shells twenty times its size, and uses them for shelter. I'll post the link really quick.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9385000/9385482.stm

Edit: Wrong again. :facepalm: Little snails survive digestion by birds. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/14048754

I should really go back to bed.

» Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:56 am

Can scratch Madagascar off my "To visit" list...

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:29 pm

I'm confused.

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:17 pm

Can scratch Madagascar off my "To visit" list...

Why? The spider itself is pretty small, and the country itself http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=madagascar+landscape&btnG=Search&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=opera&hs=t9B&rls=en&channel=suggest&biw=1024&bih=627&tbm=isch&sa=2.

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:34 pm

Can scratch Madagascar off my "To visit" list...

just don't go canoeing or rafting; power boats OK

» Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:04 am

just don't go canoeing or rafting; power boats OK

Imagine that you're canoeing downriver, and then you run into one of those giant spider webs.

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 11:59 pm

Imagine that you're canoeing downriver, and then you run into one of those giant spider webs.

Spiders give me the chills and just thinking about that.... :cold:

» Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:58 am

You reenact the Shelob bit off Lord of the Rings.

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:30 pm

How I wish I could invite some people on a boating trip there, wait until the right moment, and say "Hey, stick your head out the window."

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:12 pm

Imagine that you're canoeing downriver, and then you run into one of those giant spider webs.

I would probably die from surprise. Or if I saw it coming, I..I don't know what I'd do. I sure as heck wouldn't jump into the water, there's probably worse things there...I know! I just won't ever go on a river. Solves that.

» Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:39 pm

Huh. Busy little critters.