Stumbling upon a giant spider in a giant web may seem like something out of a nightmare, but don't worry! Our next highlighted bug is too fascinating to be scary! This friendly 60 pound spider made of red cedar measures 3' long, 4' wide and 1' high and sits on a 75 pound willow web that measures 12' by 12'.
Spiders are a type of arachnid, not insects. They have 8 legs and 2 body regions: a cephalothorax and abdomen. Although there are very few Ohio spiders that are considered dangerous for humans, nearly every type of spider is venomous! All spiders produce silk, but not every type of spider builds a web to catch its food. Silk gives spiders a wide range of housing options, from iconic spiral webs to tubes, funnels, trap doors and even submarines. Orb weaver spiders often replace their webs every day, sometimes even if they still seem perfectly fine, before spending their evenings waiting for prey.
To learn more interesting facts and view this great exhibit, visit The Dawes Arboretum Sunday through Thursday from 8am to 7pm and Friday & Saturday from 8am to 8pm! David Rogers’ Big Bugs will be on The Arboretum’s grounds until August 25, 2024.