Tuesday, September 10, 2013

What About Electric Spiders...?

Now this is something about this that scares me more than a little!

When I first read this, I couldn't help but imagine how frightening it would be if these things were the size of a small dog. I certainly would NOT want one in my yard or house, even at the smaller size!

Electro Netting



Everyone knows that spider webs are sticky. Bugs are hard pressed to escape from the gooey tendrils of an arachnid’s carefully lain trap. But the eight-legged hunter is still relying on a fly or bee to just blunder into it. It’s like fishing without bait—you’ve just got to hope you’re in the right place and that your lunch runs headfirst into your house. But as it turns out, spiders have a few tricks up their hairy sleeves to help even the odds. Recent research has revealed that they’re using electricity as a weapon.

Many flying insects generate a positive charge. The rapid flapping of their wings around their fuzzy little bodies gives them the whole socks-right-out-of-the-dryer effect. Bees can generate a charge of up to 200 volts. How do spiders take advantage of this? Their webs are negatively charged. So guess what happens when a positively charged insect comes soaring past a negatively charged glue net? You’ve got a magnetic trap. The webbing will actually lurch toward the bug, so that they’ll get snared even if they’re just flying close to it. There is no pulling up at the last minute when dealing with a spider’s web. A fly won’t be able to buzz the tower Top Gun style and get away with it. And once they’re tumbling around the web, all the silk lines nearby will be attracted to the positively charged victim too. Spiders have managed to turn static cling into a hunting tool.

Just think. If it weren't for the folks over at Listverse, I would never have know about this particular spider...and I probably would sleep a whole lot better at night! This could make for some very interesting nightmares, ya know?

Coffee out on the patio this morning. Mama Kitty has moved the babies again, so keep your eyes peeled!

9 comments:

HermitJim said...

Hey Gorges...
It is, isn't it?

Hey, thanks for coming over today!

Chickenmom said...

I hate spiders but I love the designs of their webs. Yesterday the top of the dogwood tree was covered in one. It was beautiful when the morning sun shone on it. Let me borrow your stove - scrambled eggs for all! Take a picture of the kitties for us!

Sunnybrook Farm said...

The webs are attracted to my face and I don't think I have a positive charge in fact it may be negative. Those webs should be flying out of my way as I go down the trail.

linda m said...

Boy, I had better not share this story with my hubby - he's afraid of spiders. I find them fascinating little creatures and very inventive ones at that. Their webs are so beautiful. I'll be looking for the little kitties as I enjoy my cup of coffee on the patio. Have a great Tuesday.

JO said...

That is very interesting. But they are beautiful when they are covered in the morning dew.

Still muggy here and it rained all night. Sunny now hope it stays that way.

Dizzy-Dick said...

Careful, there may be spiders on your patio. Sure glad those things don't grow the size of an elephant!! Or anything bigger than they are.

HermitJim said...

Hey Phyllis...
One of Mother Nature's best engineers, that's for sure!

I'd welcome some fresh scrambled eggs!

Thanks for the visit this morning!



Hey Sunnybrook...
I think I can find all the webs with my face, especially in the dark!

Thanks for dropping by today!



Hey Linda...
I don't know if I'm afraid of them, but I certainly would rather not have them around!

I found all but one of the kitties and MamaCat will have to show me where the last one is!

Thanks for coming over!



Hey Jo...
They do make some nice looking webs! I never knew that the webs were so varied in their use.

Thanks, sweetie, for coming over today!



Hey Dizzy...
Without a doubt, there are always a few spiders out on the patio. I try and stay out of their way, but get webbed in the face once in a while!

Don't even want to imagine them any bigger!

Thanks for coming over!

Mamahen said...

I'm not really AFRAID of spiders...I just don't like them much! I do marvel at their ability to spin those webs.....I'll have a cup if it hasn't gotten to warm for the patio. Sorry we can't see the kittens today.

HermitJim said...

Hey Mamahen...
That's about how I feel! I leave them alone and hopefully they will do the same!

Thanks for coming over today!