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Frontinellina frutetorum, the flying spider Reference for identification: <a href="http://ednieuw.home.xs4all.nl/Spiders/Linyphiidae/Linyphiidae.htm" rel="nofollow">http://ednieuw.home.xs4all.nl/Spiders/Linyphiidae/Linyphiidae.htm</a><br />
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This species is a so-called &quot;sheetweb weaver&quot;. It builds horizontal webs held in place with the support of a few vertical lines. Insects flying into the vertical lines fall onto the horizontal web, after which the hanging spider bites them through the web. <br />
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Sheetweb weavers are amazing in other ways as well. They can fly. They position their body in a specific angle and release silk. They keep releasing enough silk until the force of the wind hitting the silk beats the gravity of the weight of the total package. They can cover enormous altitudes (up to 10km high, as reported by airline pilots), as well as enormous distances. This is why they are found in nearly every habitat in the world, even in the arctic. <br />
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Due to their phenomenal distribution skills, they are often to first living thing to return to spots where life was wiped clean in caste of disasters.<br />
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Contrary to the look of the photo, it is taken during daytime. I only changed the exposure to place emphasis on the structure of the web. Europe,Frontinellina frutetorum,Geotagged,Heesch,Macro,Netherlands,The Netherlands Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Frontinellina frutetorum, the flying spider

Reference for identification: http://ednieuw.home.xs4all.nl/Spiders/Linyphiidae/Linyphiidae.htm

This species is a so-called "sheetweb weaver". It builds horizontal webs held in place with the support of a few vertical lines. Insects flying into the vertical lines fall onto the horizontal web, after which the hanging spider bites them through the web.

Sheetweb weavers are amazing in other ways as well. They can fly. They position their body in a specific angle and release silk. They keep releasing enough silk until the force of the wind hitting the silk beats the gravity of the weight of the total package. They can cover enormous altitudes (up to 10km high, as reported by airline pilots), as well as enormous distances. This is why they are found in nearly every habitat in the world, even in the arctic.

Due to their phenomenal distribution skills, they are often to first living thing to return to spots where life was wiped clean in caste of disasters.

Contrary to the look of the photo, it is taken during daytime. I only changed the exposure to place emphasis on the structure of the web.

    comments (4)

  1. Wowee, that really is amazing, great photo too. Never seen them here, will have to go looking! I am promoting this one because it is an awesome species and an awesome photo. Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago
    1. Thanks, Claire! Note that they are quite tiny, at least most of these species are, they're probably easiest found by looking for their web. Posted 10 years ago
  2. Your detailed description is very informative and interesting. Thanks Posted 10 years ago
    1. Thanks Lily. Posted 10 years ago

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Frontinellina frutetorum is a sheetweb weaver in the Frontinellina genus.

Similar species: Spiders
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
View Ferdy Christant's profile

By Ferdy Christant

All rights reserved
Uploaded Sep 10, 2014. Captured Jul 12, 2014 16:13 in Nistelrodeseweg 24, 5384 PN Heesch, The Netherlands.
  • NIKON D800
  • f/10.0
  • 1/60s
  • ISO100
  • 105mm