Giant communal spider web discovered in dark cave
Scientists found a giant communal spider web in a dark cave housing 110,000 spiders.
Why it matters
- First instance of cooperative living and colonial web-building in spiders.
- Unique ecosystem driven by chemosynthesis, not sunlight.
By the numbers
- 110,000 spiders: 69,000 Tegenaria domestica and 42,000 Prinerigone vagans.
- Web surface area: 106 sq m (1,141 sq ft).
The big picture
- Spiders adapted to a dark, sulfuric cave environment, evolving unique behaviors.
- Ecosystem relies on sulfur-oxidizing bacteria for energy.
What they're saying
- Users fascinated by chemosynthesis-driven ecosystems.
- Jokes about avoiding the cave location.
Caveats
- Findings based on a single cave ecosystem.
What’s next
- Further genetic studies on isolated spider populations.