Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

An arachnophobe's worst nightmare? It’s 'raining spiders' in Brazil

'Social spider' species is known for its 'sheet webs'

James Legge
Saturday 09 February 2013 11:44 GMT
Comments

In scenes which will haunt anyone with an aversion our eight-legged friends, hundreds of spiders have begun dangling from telegraph poles in the southern Brazilian town of Santo Antônio da Platina.

Footage posted online on Friday shows the fairly sizable arachnids, identified as Anelosimus eximius, in one massive web.

A local biologist told Gawker that the "social spider" species is known for its very big colonies and "sheet webs," and said such a mass dangling is "normal."

The species normally inhabits tropical environments throughout South America.

Scientists say social spiders work in teams to catch their prey.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in