Are spiders falling from Modesto skies? Here’s what that spooky white web really is
Fluffy, “spider web-looking things” floating in the Modesto air were the talk of social media Wednesday afternoon.
Several members of a private community Facebook page, Stanislaus News, have been questioning what the wind-riding substance is.
The general consensus from commenters on these posts is that it must be the result of a process called “ballooning,” where spiders essentially travel by air, leaving remnants of the silk they produce.
We talked to two pest control companies, one of which has written a blog on spider ballooning, to see whether they could confirm that this is what Modesto residents are witnessing. Here’s what they said:
What is the spider web-like substance floating in Modesto?
Some residents are guessing that the substance is just as described: spider webs.
Some species of spiders practice a phenomenon called “ballooning,” where they use the tiny hair on their legs, a strand of released silk and electricity to take flight, according to Rancho Cordova-based Results Pest Control. Most of the spider webs you see in the air belong to recent hatchlings.
This sort of arachnid air travel results in floating strands of the material spiders use to make webs. Spiders can travel as high as three miles in the sky using this method, according to the company.
They typically do this in the spring and early summer, owner Brad Wolfgram told The Bee in a phone interview.
Typically at this time of year, spiders are going to start going into the ground to escape the colder weather, Wolfgram said.
“It’s not likely that that’s what they’re seeing this time of year,” he originally said.
After the call, we sent Wolfgram photos of what’s being spotted in Modesto neighborhoods. He said they are “definitely ballooning spider webs.”
We also showed the photos to Stephen Tahija, owner of Next Generation Pest Control, who echoed Wolgram’s opinion.
“It’s abnormal for sure, but also every year we have a major increase in a different pest depending on the type of weather we have had,” Tahija said. “Spiders have been absolutely crazy this year.”
This story was originally published October 5, 2023 at 10:03 AM with the headline "Are spiders falling from Modesto skies? Here’s what that spooky white web really is."
.jpg)