Bailed Out

Posted by Earnest (Oklahoma, United States) on 30 April 2008 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

I found it somewhat unusual to find a spider's parachute in the grass this spring as most spiders weave these migration devices in the late fall. Last fall was spectacular as on at least one day, in the late evening when looking toward the sun it looked as if snow was falling. I tried but failed to get any decent photos at that time....

Comments (14)

Stunner from Kingston, Jamaica

Well captured! I have never seen a spider's web like this before!

30 Apr 2008 1:04am

@Stunner: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2001/November/011109OSL.html

Ruben Latre from Terrassa, Spain

Really nice capture, I will never tell it was a spider's web, but I think it's a great abstract picture !! I love the grainy texture, well done !!

30 Apr 2008 2:53am

@Ruben Latre: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2001/November/011109OSL.html

Observing from Chester, United Kingdom

Very interesting, I've never seen or heard of this before.

30 Apr 2008 3:02am

@Observing: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2001/November/011109OSL.html

Alun Lambert from Cheshire, United Kingdom

Interesting shot

30 Apr 2008 3:30am

@Alun Lambert: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2001/November/011109OSL.html

MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom

How unusual, it must have been a spectacular sight to see.

30 Apr 2008 4:07am

@MaryB: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2001/November/011109OSL.html

Eric Fry from Houston, TX, United States

I've never seen anything quite like that.

30 Apr 2008 5:18am

@Eric Fry: Now that you've seen it - you'll see more guaranteed!

http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2001/November/011109OSL.html

Steven from Chicagoland, United States

I'm with Eric on this. Only I'm probably a little bit more literal. :-) Interesting capture.

30 Apr 2008 8:38am

@Steven: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2001/November/011109OSL.html

Teresa Durães from Montijo, Portugal

great composition

30 Apr 2008 9:01am

Peter Miller from Lichfield, United Kingdom

great shot, hope the little fellow made it ok

30 Apr 2008 9:33am

@Peter Miller: Me too.

Anita from West Nottingham, United States

Do these things really carry the spikers some distance? Learn something new every day.

30 Apr 2008 11:49am

@Anita: Read it here: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2001/November/011109OSL.html

Betty from New Jersey, United States

Very well captured, Earnest. But now you have me wondering... do I have to watch out for flying spiders in the fall? It's hard enough watching for them everywhere else! (I really dislike spiders!)

30 Apr 2008 12:56pm

@Betty: Betty, I'm very surprised that this behavior is unknown to most people. Like you I had a stron aversion to spiders until I moved back to the country. It seems that every time I looked there was one riding on my shoulder! Finally I just learned to respect but appreciate them. They are just different -- ha, ha, -- a lot different from us. Here's a good informational blurb: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2001/November/011109OSL.html