We find ourselves flowing into another season. It’s fall, autumn, post summer, pre-winter. So many things happen this time of year. Not that there are more or less things happening as compared to spring, but just different things. Like watching the leaves turn on the trees. Leaf peepers are out and about, especially on the eastern seaboard. But somewhat in every state. In Nevada up in the mountains as the freezing temperatures creep from the summits down to the lowlands, the leaves on the trees give a grand show for anyone who’s lucky enough to see them. But there’s more to fall than leaves.
There’s a mass movement I’m betting most haven’t seen. And if you’ve noticed this happening, you might not guess what you were actually seeing. As spring comes and goes and summer moves along all things in nature do the natural thing and that involves having families. Yes, it’s not just the screaming cats in the alley that interrupt your sleep. It’s also the dogs and rabbits and horses and cows and spiders. Creepy crawly spiders. I must say here I don’t like spiders. Spiders and I have never become BFFs. All things considered we never will. So that makes this story all the more creepy — or creepier!
Now just as a side note, if you’re really paranoid of spiders you might not want to continue reading, as once you learn the following knowledge you can’t unknow it and you’ll always be aware of what happens with spiders in the fall. Just a warning ...
OK ... spiders spin webs, we all know that. And in those webs they catch bugs and sometimes wrap them up in web stuff to save them and eat them later. Yum. But there’s another use of those webs. It’s a way for the baby spiders to go out into the world and start their own families. And here’s how that’s done. Well, maybe not exactly how it’s done as I’m not an entomologist, just a gal who learned about flying spiders.
One of the first signs of fall outside can be seen early in the morning along the tops of the blades of grass on your lawn. You can see fine spider webs overnight spiders have spun. It kind of looks like a shimmering sea of tiny zip lines built for tiny spiders. Quite amazing really. But then as the days get cooler things get ramped up another notch and the baby spiders are kicked out of their spider homes and sent off. But how they move is remarkable — but creepy. Did I mention I think this is creepy?
They fly — on webs. Yes, they do. On a warm fall day if you’re lucky enough to time it just right you can see this mass movement. You go outside and look up toward the sun. But not directly at the sun as you know the sun will melt your eyes. Just kind of up toward the sun and watch. Occasionally you might see a shimmering trail or a glob of webs flying through the air. You’ll think, “Wow kinda pretty.” You might see one or two but as you watch you’ll see more and more of them. Some will be really high and some you could grab out of the air. But don’t grab them because there are tiny little spiders attached to those webs. Flying to their new homes to make their lives and families. They fly, uh, coach, not first class, until the web catches on a tree or fence post or car antenna or clothes line or, yes, you!
I bet you have at some time or another seen a web blowing in the wind caught on something. Now you know how and why they got there. Cool, huh? But still — creepy.
So go out and enjoy fall and all it has to offer. Cider, hunting, raking leaves, migrating geese and the mass movement of tiny baby spiders. That should keep you up nights.
Warned ya!
Trina lives in Eureka, Nevada. Share with her at itybytrina@yahoo.com Really!
