Spiders Web Question

[hobbyheater]

The question is? The spiders and their webs are in numbers like we have never seen before. Do we just have a lot more spiders than normal or is this an indication that we might be in for an abnormally bad winter weather wise?

 

[HDRock]

IDK ,but there is a shi* load of spiders and their webs around this year

 

[hockeypuck]

I noticed it here in the north east. Way more spiders than usual.

 

[vinny11950]

was doing yard work yesterday, and spiders every where. all types. kept running into webs. i don't mind, if they trap more mosquitoes. glad it is not just me that is noticing.

reasons: could be less predators - new insecticides are killing bees and wasps that feed on them? or maybe there are more insects to feed on because last winter wasn't a deep freeze winter so more insects eggs/larva survived?

who knows, maybe its the year of the spider.

 

[BrotherBart]

We are up to our ears in them in the woods and the yard every year. No different this year.

 

[Hearth Mistress]

We have a lot more spiders than I remember, but these are big and weird. I looked them up, they are "funnel spiders" as their webs are literally a funnel. The get big, like bigger than my palm big and they are everywhere and FAST little buggers.

We see a lot more snakes here too, timber rattlers and northern copperheads (no, they are not milk snakes) Our township sends notices out as one the K9 dogs was killed by a snake bite earlier this year, scared all of us as they usually aren't seen in this area. Wet summer, mossy trees, soggy woods all make good snake conditions I guess.

Spiders are creepy but snakes....no thank you. I'm sure my neighbor watches to get video of me jumping out of my skin screaming as our 5 ft black racer snake friend scares the bejesus out of me when I get the mail

 

[Adios Pantalones]

More spring/summer rain = more prey=more spiders?

 

[firebroad]

I have noticed an increase in a LOT of insects this year. I am overrun with grasshoppers, especially the winged ones. And this is the first year I have been bothered by mosquitoes. Though I didn't see HUGE quantities of cicadas, there are a lot of cicada killers digging tunnels in my garden. They, along with the spiders, are welcome, as far as I am concerned. Don't know if any of it has any bearing on the oncoming winter at all.

Ever notice that people loathe some of the most beneficial predators? Spiders, snakes, & bats are alright in my book. So long as they don't climb into bed with me.

 

[NortheastAl]

This year the spiders have been out in force. Fortunately, this has been one of the least active years for Mosquitos. The Bats have made a comeback and are out there at night doing a good job of picking the little buggers off. A few years ago the bats got decimated by White Nose Syndrome. A fungal infection. Then the Mosquitos would eat you alive after the sun set. We now have day biting Mosquitos that bring all sorts of nasty diseases with them, but this year they have been fewer as well. With all the rain I would have thought the skeeters would have been thick, but we got lucky.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Lots of spider webs means a big need for food. I don't think it has any bearing or hint on the weather patterns.

 

[hobbyheater]

Lots of spider webs means a big need for food. I don't think it has any bearing or hint on the weather patterns.

It has been a real dry summer mid-may through to now, so very few mosquitoes or no-see-ums. That would make a good explanation for a need for more webs than normal.

 

[midwestcoast]

More spiders & webs around the house this year here too. Very few mosquitos after the early summer. Fewer fire-flies & earwigs too. Next year we'll probably be swimming in them.
The one thing I find eerie is the utter lack of butterflies. All I've seen are the White Cabbage butterflies laying eggs on my Kale and one dead Monarch washed up on the beach. One Monarch all summer?
So I Googled around & apparently its not just a local phenomenon. Lack of Milkweed & erratic weather in their winter homes in Mexico are decimating them

 

[NortheastAl]

More spiders & webs around the house this year here too. Very few mosquitos after the early summer. Fewer fire-flies & earwigs too. Next year we'll probably be swimming in them.
The one thing I find eerie is the utter lack of butterflies. All I've seen are the White Cabbage butterflies laying eggs on my Kale and one dead Monarch washed up on the beach. One Monarch all summer?
So I Googled around & apparently its not just a local phenomenon. Lack of Milkweed & erratic weather in their winter homes in Mexico are decimating them

That's a shame. My neighbor has butterfly bushes and this year we saw a lot of monarchs. Not so many of the white butterflies and less fire flies too. And we had a very wet summer. Go figure?

 

[NortheastAl]

It has been a real dry summer mid-may through to now, so very few mosquitoes or no-see-ums. That would make a good explanation for a need for more webs than normal.

You are right on that account. Very strange weather this year across the US. I'm guessing you had strange weather in BC this year too.

 

[Ehouse]

More spiders & webs around the house this year here too. Very few mosquitos after the early summer. Fewer fire-flies & earwigs too. Next year we'll probably be swimming in them.
The one thing I find eerie is the utter lack of butterflies. All I've seen are the White Cabbage butterflies laying eggs on my Kale and one dead Monarch washed up on the beach. One Monarch all summer?
So I Googled around & apparently its not just a local phenomenon. Lack of Milkweed & erratic weather in their winter homes in Mexico are decimating them

Same here (upstate NY) for butterflies. Very few save for the Whites.

 

[mywaynow]

This time of year they are very active. They try to get to the warmth of the house during the cool nights too. I am seeing nothing unusual. Anyone doing mulching will see tons of them as a result. Don't know if they are in the mulch or rise from the ground as mulch is laid down. Either way they show. One did its' best to hook me the other morning. Walked out of the garage door and smack into the web. It spanned over 8 feet wide. I did not see the critter, but I am sure he is 2 1/2 feet long!

 

[firebroad]

This time of year they are very active. They try to get to the warmth of the house during the cool nights too. I am seeing nothing unusual. Anyone doing mulching will see tons of them as a result. Don't know if they are in the mulch or rise from the ground as mulch is laid down. Either way they show. One did its' best to hook me the other morning. Walked out of the garage door and smack into the web. It spanned over 8 feet wide. I did not see the critter, but I am sure he is 2 1/2 feet long!

Reminds me of the night when I went into labor 40 years ago, it was September 30, my mother threw on on clothes and went out the door right into one. She described it as, "That webby time of year, I should have known better."

 

[hobbyheater]

You are right on that account. Very strange weather this year across the US. I'm guessing you had strange weather in BC this year too.

I believe that on the coast, this summer has been a near low record rainfall!