Arachnophobes, avoid taking a trip to this Greek beach. Aitoliko, a small village and popular tourist spot, perched between two bridges in the west of the country were shared by a surfer who posted a video on Youtube, one of its beaches was being invaded by a spectacular spider web that stretched almost 1000 feet.
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The season of love
Trees, bushes and seashores, there isn’t an inch of the beach that has escaped the webs of Tetragnatha On the menu for these countless spiders: feasting on mosquitoes and copulation galore.
This phenomenon, although confusing, even disturbing for some, is not rare.According to Maria Chatzaki, a molecular biologist from the Democratic University of Thrace (Greece) who was interviewed by Newsit, said:
‘This is not the first time this has happened. It can happen every two years.’
Spiders from the genus Tetragnatha benefit from the end of summer, the ideal season to feed on mosquitoes who are very present in hot and humid areas at this time, as well as to reproduce and thus give birth to a new generation.
Those who aren’t fans of this event rest assured, everything should soon return to normal since according to the specialist, ‘the spiders will party and then will soon die.’ A kind of swan song for this species who has a very elongated body.
Inoffensive and very useful
Tetragnatha is a common genus of spidersthat can be found in the United States and Europe, and have the habit of weaving their webs in wet conditions. Some even have the ability to walk on water. But no need to be afraid, they are harmless. ‘These spiders are not dangerous to humans and do not cause any damage to the surrounding flora,’ reassures the biologist.
Better yet, they are clearing mosquitos out who have been particularly invasive this year according to several observers. So why not enjoy this spectacle of nature as long as it lasts?
