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Name: Judy S.
Status: educator
Age: 50s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1/13/2003
Question:
Just this past week (12/1-12/4/2002), I caught a glimpse of a newscast about spider webs covering a large area in Canada. Since my students and I were recently honored by the presence of a magnificent black and yellow orb weaver in our school garden, I wanted to learn more about this apparent large web phenomenon, but I have not seen another report on it. Can you help me find more information about it? My students and I would like to believe that "our" spider went up there to join in on the web-making fun. Well, I would like to believe it, since I cannot even read the ending of Charlotte's Web.

Replies:
I did not hear this "spider web news," but I think I can safely say that spiders do not join together to build giant webs. I have seen many ordinary webs placed quite close together over an area of several hundred square feet, and perhaps such a situation could cover a larger area? Spiders do not travel very far, and do not live very long. "Your" spider unfortunately has probably passed away with the coming of winter, but its progeny may well be around next year.

J. Elliott

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