Why is this Greek Town Covered in a Spider Web?

A stretch of about 984 feet of spider web has blanketed land along the shores of Aitoliko, a town in western Greece. The massive blanket has been created by Tetragnatha spiders, a species known for constructing large mating nests. The nest, though alarming, is not the first of its kind to occur in the area – a similar large web was last seen in 2003.

Causes of the Web

This phenomenon is actually a seasonal occurrence brought about by an influx in the number of mosquitoes in the area. In a bid to maintain balance, nature introduces a large number of spiders to keep the mosquito number in check. Thanks to the overabundant food supply, the spiders multiply quickly and form extensive webs. Other conditions that contribute to the web’s growth are

humidity and high temperatures, both of which are in no short supply in the coastal city of Aitoliko.

Is the Web Dangerous?

Fortunately, experts have been able to ascertain that the spiders and the web do not pose any risk to human life. In addition, they will not cause any sort of damage to the animal and plant life of the ecosystem. The web is expected to disintegrate naturally over time.