Amazing images of a spider web that stretches at least 160 meters across the country are captured in stunning photographs.
Merry Roberts, the dogwalker from Dogwalkers, found this natural wonder in Storeton on Merseyside early this month.
Pictures and videos of the spider web weaving along the side view show it blanketing fence posts, shrubs, and barbed wire.
It is possible to see delicate webs covered in dew, with tiny “money spiders” crawling across its surface.
A striking photo shows how the web covers the whole of a thick gorse shrub at the edge of the path.
Pictured: Merry Roberts, a dogwalker, was shocked to discover this amazing natural phenomenon earlier in the month. She saw tiny spiders creating a silk web stretching at least 160 miles through the country.
Detail: You can see the intricate web covered in dew, with millions of tiny “money spiders” crawling across its surface
Webs (also known as gossamer) were created by thousands of money-spinning spiders. These spiders climb to the highest point possible and let loose silk threads. The wind catches and lifts the web into the air, lifting it away from the site.
This technique is known as ballooning and allows tiny spiders (around 5mm in length) to go further than what they would be able to on foot.
Merry, 47 years old, is seen walking along the web with thousands of spiders.
Merry shared these images on Facebook last Tuesday. Merry wrote, “I came across the spectacle while walking my dog this afternoon. This was at my local forest (I live in Wirral).
“I have never seen anything similar to it. These webs extended from the initial post all the way through the final one, covering every bush along the route!
It must have been about 150m easily. Could anyone please tell me more about this spider or the species it might belong to?
Merry stated that the Web was so large she could not believe her eyes when it covered the Merseyside bushes. The experts she contacted told her more about ballooning, spiders, and so forth
Pictured
Pictured: The web reached the top of the bush with this spider.
This post was liked over 630 times, and there have been dozens of comments and shares from people who were astonished by its beauty.
Helen McCrow wrote: “What a sight! Nature is so amazing and beautiful.
Dawn Walters laughed: “Maybe spiders have built housing estates or a caterpillar took too much caffeine in the morning!”
Sally Edensor commented: “Am I alone freaked by this?” I’d have run one mile.
Sondi Wilson replied: ‘How neat! This is probably an insect net that works very well.
Merry shared his thoughts today.
“The webs were connected to fencing that runs parallel to this track, seperating it from a field.
“I’d say that the webs stretched for at least 150 meters. One could see them covering the grass and field.
“I sent an email to Liverpool World Museum asking about this bizarre occurrence. They were extremely helpful and responded immediately.
It is also called ballooning. Millions upon millions of money spiders fly around this time each year. They shoot silk up and then parachut along.
“There were millions along this stretch!
“We took our dog on a walk along the same path over the weekend. The webs were still present, but there was more to the path that covered all the trees. This is something we didn’t notice last week.
“I was simply in amazement at it. Wildlife is my passion, but I’ve only seen it on television.
“I feel extremely lucky to have witnessed it in person. It was breathtaking.
What’s ballooning? The way spiders travel
Pictured: This huge silk web was created by spiders in Merseyside
Ballooning involves money spiders moving through the air with their gossamer thread catching the wind. This causes them to be airborne and at the mercy the currents.
Spiders will climb as high as they can and let loose silk threads. This forms a triangular parachute that catches the breeze, lifts the spider up and takes them away.
Kiting is a technique that allows tiny spiders (around 5mm in length) to go further than what they would on foot.
Jess Price is a Sussex Wildlife Trust conservation officer. She said that this is gossamer. This is the term for silver webs made of silken threads, and they remain after millions of spiders have ballooned away from the site.
The ‘Money Spiders’ are small arachnids which often show up on clothes or cars during this season.
“They will climb up to the top of their ability, point their abdomen in the air and begin to release silk threads.
These quickly create a parachute-shaped shape that catches the wind and takes the spider up into the air. This tiny money spider can balloon much further than they could by foot.
It is best to see “Gossamer” in autumn when there’s dew on the threads. This makes it glow in the sunlight.
“Soon, the weather and other wildlife will cut through many of the threads. The gossamer slowly fades away.”