Why is it Raining Spiders in Australia?
WouterIn Goulburn, Australia, residents were greeted by a strange phenomenon last week. As the weather got worse, the town was covered in spider webs. As a result, the entire town looked like a haunted house.
The phenomenon is known as “spider rain,” and it occurs when hundreds of arachnids release silk strands into the air to climb higher ground. The strands of silk are usually white and resemble gossamer. They can also contain black dots.
The spiders were believed to be newly hatched baby spiders. They were released into the air using their silk as parachutes. They would then disperse to their new homes after a few days. The weather is also believed to have played a part.
As the weather improved, the webs began to disappear. However, locals are still mesmerized by the ballooning phenomenon. They say that the occurrence is part of a mass migration of baby spiders.
In fact, it’s not uncommon for spiders to go ballooning. During the spring and summer months, certain species of small spiders are known to balloon around the Outback of Australia.
According to a local researcher, Keith Basterfield, this phenomenon is common in the Southern Tablelands region of New South Wales. He has studied the phenomenon for more than a decade, and has documented reports as far back as 1920.
According to Basterfield, there are two main ways that spiders use to migrate. Firstly, they’ll create a temporary web above the ground. This is a good way to prey on insects. But it’s also used for other purposes.
