The recent wet-weather systems have added much moisture to both the land and atmosphere. Foggy mornings sometimes result, and they often reveal interesting features and facts in panhandle Florida.
The moisture is appreciated by anyone attempting to propagate plants, but the dawn dampness comes at the price of lower visibility.
Most commuters are in a heightened state of vigilance with the reduced ability to see into the distance. Daring drivers who outrun their headlights risk the increased probability of an unintended collision.
Oddly enough, the sight-limiting fog improves the chances of avoiding accidental contact with a common, but often unseen, north Florida structure. Spider webs, usually hidden in plain sight, quickly become visible as the humid air condenses on the silk strands.
Condensing moisture brings spiderwebs into view on foggy mornings. While not generally considered cuddly creatures, spiders and their webs help control some flying pests.
It is worth noting that not all spiders are prolific web builders. Instead, some prefer lying in wait for a hapless insect, small amphibian or reptile to wander by and satisfy their nutritional needs.
Their silk production is used as a means of hiding and for egg protection. The silk is just as sticky as that of web builders.
Most notable among these local ambush predators is the wolf spider. It utilizes a burrow to obscure its presence while waiting for its next meal.
There are local spiders which use webs for procuring victims, and sometimes much more. The two most obvious web structures are orbs and tangle, which are sometime called cobwebs.
Orb webs are shaped as the term indicates. The spiral strands of silk form an aerial net for capturing any luckless insect which happens to be flying on precisely the wrong compass heading.
Native orb-weavers will go to great heights, literally, for the purpose of catching meals in their silky traps. Even local utility wires host spider populations, but these are seen by the public only on foggy days.
These webs will also entangle anyone who, on a fogless day, wanders into the trap. The sensation of invisible filaments crawling across one’s arms or face is almost immediate and unmistakable.
Flailing arms and a quick retreat are usually the reaction to the unplanned intrusion into the arachnid’s dining room.
The spiders usually have the good sense and discretion to retreat to safety as far away as possible from the web’s blundering wrecker.
The tensile strength of the spider’s silk is often surprising to the uninitiated. It is alleged to be stronger than steel of a similar diameter.
People in previous centuries have found several uses for spider webs, even beyond holiday decorations for Halloween and haunted houses. One use was as a form of gauze to close wounds and stop bleeding.
The region is home to the Golden Orb spider which is capable of producing webs multiple feet across. Suspended above the forest floor, this spider is easily camouflaged against the irregular patterns of leaves and twigs.
Another native orb weaver is the Spiny Orb Weaver, sometimes locally called the Crab spider.
True to its common name, it appears similar to the semi-terrestrial land crabs found on the coast.
Spiders producing tangle webs are here too. In addition to trapping insects, these webs are used as nesting sites and nurseries for the next generation.
The tangle webs are most frequently seen in isolated spots, such as seldom-used buildings. There they capture and hold dust and have the appearance of a grey cloud.
Crashing into a spider’s web can be a startling experience and bring to mind all the worst images of spiders.
At least these accidental collisions will not raise one’s car insurance rates.
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