Where was the world's largest spider web found?

The world's largest spider web was discovered in Sulfur Cave, located on the border between Albania and Greece.

How many spiders live in the giant web in Sulfur Cave?

The enormous web in Sulfur Cave is home to over 100,000 spiders from two different species.

Why did two different spider species build a shared web?

The cave's abundant food source of midges and flies, along with the lack of light, created an ideal environment for both species to coexist and build a shared web.

Home / Science / World's Largest Spider Web Houses 100,000+ Spiders

World's Largest Spider Web Houses 100,000+ Spiders

16 Dec

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Summary

World's largest spider web spans 106 square meters in Sulfur Cave.
Web is home to over 100,000 spiders from two different species.
Cave's unique environment sustains spiders with abundant midge prey.

World's Largest Spider Web Houses 100,000+ Spiders

An astonishing discovery has been made in Sulfur Cave, straddling the Albania-Greece border, where scientists have identified what is believed to be the world's largest spider web. This colossal web, measuring an impressive 106 square meters, shelters an estimated population of over 100,000 spiders belonging to two different species: the barn funnel weaver and the sheet weaver.

The unique habitat within the cave, formed by sulfuric acid, provides a stable environment with plentiful food sources, primarily dense swarms of midges. This abundance, coupled with the lack of light, has allowed the two spider species to coexist and thrive, a phenomenon previously undocumented, especially given the predatory relationship between barn funnel weavers and sheet weavers.

Further exploration revealed that the cave system also hosts other creatures, including scorpions, centipedes, and various insects. The midges and flies mature and become trapped in the webs, serving as a crucial food source for the spiders. This remarkable find offers new insights into spider behavior and cave ecosystems.