posted 01-11-2002 11:59 AM            

So I searched the literature and found these sources

From http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Linyphiidae/Linyphiidae.htm

Sheet web spiders

Family Linyphiidae

This is a very large family of more than 3500 species worldwide.

Most of the spiders of this family weave sheet like webs and the spider hangs under the web. Above the sheets the spider inserts scaffolding of threads. Insects fly against these strands and falls onto the web where they are caught. The spiders are so small and light weight that they have the capability of "flying" through the air by means of their threads. They are referred too as dwarf spiders. In the British Isles, they are called money spiders.

Nearly half of the spiders in Europe are member of this family. Their size is between 4 - 10 mm. Most of them have dark colors.

Neriene montana (looks somewhat similar to what I am seeing)

Neriene Blackwall, 1833
Araneus triamgularis Clerck, 1758
= Linyphia marginata C.L.Koch, 1834 Syn.: Neolinyphia Oi, 1960; Prolinyphia Homann, 1952 by van Helsdingen, 1969

Neriene Blackwall 1833 (gender feminine)

Type: N. marginata Blackwall 1833 = Linyphia clathrata Sundevall 1829

SYN Linyphiella Homann 1950 (preoccupied, no type species; see Brignoli 1983), Prolinyphia Homann 1952 (nomen novum for Linyphiella, preoccupied; type: Linyphia emphana Walck. 1841).

The generic limits of Linyphia, sensu lato, are currently a subject of controversy. Hels. (1969) separated Neriene from Linyphia and synonymized Prolinyphia with the former genus. L,M&M (1974) reduced Neriene to subgeneric status and Crawford (1988) revalidated it as a genus. Kaston (1977) gave both Neriene and Prolinyphia full generic status. Hels. (1969) and Crawford (1988) are followed here.

clathrata (Sundevall 1829). SYN waldea Ch&I 1943. Blauvelt 1936, Kaston 1948, L&F 1954, Drew 1967, Renault 1968, Hels. 1969, Freitag et al. 1969, Fox & Dondale 1973, A&D 1992, B&H 1992. ME, NH, MA, CT, NY, NJ, DC, NC, OH, MI, WI, MO, MN, NF, NS, NB, PQ, ON, MB, [SK], [AB], palaearctic

coosa (Gertsch 1951). Hels. 1969. AL

digna (Keys. 1886). SYN diana: Banks 1904 (misspelling), dogmatica Ch 1925. Blauvelt 1936, Hels. 1969. CA, OR, WA, AK, BC

litigiosa (Keys. 1886). Blauvelt 1936, Hels. 1969. CA, OR, WA, UT, WY, MT, BC, Mexico

montana (Clerck 1757). Hels. 1969, Lapointe & Hutchinson 1992. PQ, ON, palaearctic. Introduced to North America.

peltata (Wider 1834). SYN emertoni: Söörensen 1898 (misidentification). Holm 1967. Greenland, palaearctic

radiata (Walckenaer 1841). SYN marginata C.L.Koch 1834 (preoccupied), marmorata Hentz 1850, scripta Hentz 1850. C&Z 1935, Gertsch 1935, Blauvelt 1936, Kaston 1948, L&F 1954, Lo&G 1955, Renault 1968, Hels. 1969, Rapp 1980, Heimer et al. 1984, W,D&R 1984, Dorris 1985, Crawford 1988, A&D 1992. ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI, NY, NJ, PA, DC, MD, VA, NC, AL, FL, MS, MO, MI, MN, LA, AR, OH, WI, IN, IA, NE, TX, NM, AZ, [SD], WY, WA, AK, NS, NB, ON, PQ, MB, SK, [AB], BC, palaearctic. Replacement of the familiar name Linyphia marginata C.L. Koch with radiata has been treated as contingent on inclusion of the species in Neriene, in which it is a secondary homonym of Neriene marginata Blackwall 1833 (Hels. 1969, L,M&M 1974); however, the Koch name is permanently invalid (ICZN Art. 57b) as a primary homonym of Linyphia marginata Blackwall 1833, a separate nominal taxon published in a different paper (RC).

redacta Ch 1925. SYN davisi Gertsch 1951. Hels. 1969. FL, MS, GA

variabilis (Banks 1892). SYN maculata Em 1909. Blauvelt 1936, Kaston 1948, Hels. 1969, Dorris 1985, Beatty 1988, B&H 1992. MA, NY, CT, NJ, DC, MN, WI, OH, NC, GA, AR, PQ

from http://www.gwu.edu/~clade/spiders/projectSummary.htm

About 20-30 species of spiders are known to inflict medically important bites, and about 20 genera are potentially of medical importance. Spider venoms are useful to medical and pharmaceutical research because they can block or affect precisely nerve function. Spider silk has extraordinary physical properties that are beginning to be understood at the molecular and biophysical level. Biotechnological research and development is approaching commercialization of spider silk proteins. In summary, the current and future economic significance of spiders for humans is impressive.

Nevertheless, no araneologist can easily identify species of the dominant Nearctic spider family (Linyphiidae), because basic taxonomic research and manuals are lacking.

From http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1548/eb1548.html

Sheetweb Spiders (Family Linyphiidae). These small, drab spiders engineer dew speckled webbing that enshrouds fields and forest in the early morning. Their populations may reach many thousands per acre. They are very elusive and readily drop to the ground to escape danger

Anyone suspecting a spider to be dangerous should collect it carefully (without crushing) and send it for identification in a leakproof vial of alcohol (any type) to the Plant Diagnostic Clinic, WSU Puyallup, 7612 Pioneer Way, Puyallup, WA 98371-4998

from http://vivaldi.zool.gu.se/Ekologi/~pres/GaryL/GaryLeng.htm

In web-building spiders on the other hand, e.g. sheet-web spiders (Linyphiidae) or orb-web spiders (Araneidae), adult males leave their webs and starts searching the surroundings for females.
In the sheet-web spider Linyphia triangularis the adult males have a short lifespan. The mating period lasts only a few weeks from the end of July. If they are lucky, they can mate with several females during this time and get their genes well represented in the next generation of spiders. Some males may be seen in the population for a couple of months, but shortly after the mating period most of the males are dead. They have either starved to death or been caught by a predator. The females stay in their webs for as long as it is possible, producing an egg sac with up to 70 eggs every two or three weeks. Finally they freeze or starve to death when the temperature drops in winter, leaving just the egg sacs stuck to the underside of twigs and dead leaves. The eggs hibernate and hatch again when the temperature rise around the beginning of April.

posted 01-12-2002 07:32 AM            

Copy of post:
>>This is HILARIOUS .. these OBVIOUS CT Web Strands shown in Video on this report from Florida are supposedly caused by "PSOCIDS". Hmmm, sure is interesting that same type of flying webs here in Texas were identified in local news back in Oct/Nov as being caused by "BALLOON SPIDERS"!!! Now, 2 months later and temps having been in teens/low twenties last week, we were still getting heavy WEB-STRANDS (many over 20 feet long and visible up as far above as you can see) & dense snowstorms of PARTICLES flying down in masses when there was obvious CHEMTRAIL spraying around here on Tues & Weds this week. Sheesh - they must think we're all sheople from the Pumpkin Patch!

SNIPS: FAIR USE CITED: RESEARCH-EDUCATION/ DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY: http://www.mycfnow.com/orlpn/news/stories/news-118542220020110-170113.html

January 10, 2002 - Reports Of Strange Objects Flood 911 Operators / Substance Identified As Web (Donald Forbes Reports)

PALM BAY, Fla. -- Residents in Brevard County flooded 911 operators Thursday with reports of strange thread-like objects falling from the sky...

Thousands of the strands could be seen floating around the Palm Bay, Fla., Police Department and other buildings in the area...

posted 01-12-2002 08:51 PM            

I wonder who they had examine those web samples in Florida...? They must think people are nothing more than morons. It's an insult to our intelligence.

We have spiders spinning webs and now some type of plant lice spinning webs?
We sure have some prolific insect species multiplying at the most inopportune time of year...
I took the time to look up the information about these new "web spinners". They spin their webs on tree trunks during their breeding season... guess they must have had a big wind storm in Florida to blow all those webs off the trees...

Just for the record... I saw a bunch of webs again this last week out in the pasture... thousands of webs lying in all directions.

posted 01-12-2002 09:40 PM            

but i have really seen the knat like bug
with the tiny spiders in the last week
next time i will collect and send

posted 01-17-2002 01:07 AM            

Tuesday i went into a large greenhouse I routinely visit
There were webs over the plants and covering the pots like a fine "mulch"
(very similar to the photo of the fine webs on the white box shown on page two of this topic)
The operator of the greenhouse had noticed them~ but did not think anything of it
There were no spiders
There is a roof~ it is a greenhouse 30'X 100'
with no roof vents
The only outside air comes through two large fans at one end.

On Saturday and Sunday I was up the coast working in the woodlands where long golden threads were hanging from the trees. It takes almost a head on light to catch the glint of these strands.

Today (wednesday) the accumulation of ground web is about half that of the first picture on page one of this topic. And there are no spiders to be found at all. It was 20 F degrees just the other night a friend who was out with a thermometer told me.

I have looked for those knat like things that can make webs~ but can't find any.

The WebFall continues to be associated with periods between rain storms which can be as brief as just one afternoon.

We have had about 60 days of rain in November and December~ so jet observation has been limited. However the last few days have been exceptionally "clear", and this morning and afternoon the jets were "selectively" leaving "persistance" and the websStrands were coming down to earth.

Late yesterday I stooped down to examine a road at a close angle to the setting sun~ the webstrands had covered its surface just like they do on the field soil.

posted 01-17-2002 11:27 AM            

Posted By: *********
Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002, 8:48 p.m.
PALM BAY, Fla. -- Residents in Brevard County flooded
911 operators Thursday with reports of strange thread-like
objects falling from the sky, Local 6 News reported.

OKAY THIS SPIDERWEB IS SO COMMON THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS CALLED 911 IN DROVES TO FIND OUT WHAT THIS WAS?

COULD BE PEOPLE ARE WATCHIN THE SKIES ABIT MORE LOOKIN FOR CHEMTRAILS, AND ARE A TAD BIT PARANOID.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Response To: Strange Objects Flood 911 Operators

Residents in Denton and Dallas counties in Texas have been reporting the same thing.... I see it almost every day now.

Last October the Dallas paper told us not to worry it was just a Halloween prank. The Denton paper told us it was ballooning spiders but not to worry because they only do this once a year.

Well... there goes both those stupid explanations. It is now January and those invading spiders are still at it and I bet the ole Halloween pranksters have gone on to better things.

The problem was so bad for a day or two in October that you could see it falling in wads while driving down the road. The whole issue even made the 6 o'clock news in the DFW area a couple of times.

Right now...outside... my lawn is covered... completely covered with a layer of this webby looking stuff.

The way I see it the only way to be paranoid with this event would be trying to act like it is not happening. Now THAT would be a real weirdo!

Why not try to find why it IS happening and do something about it? Just what are you breathing?

Would you like to know more about the webby looking stuff sometimes called angel hair? I have compiled a LOT of various reports < as far back as the first century > .... including a few brave people who have ventured some educated guesses.
http://server2042.virtualave.net/listen/newpage1.htm

Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
marksky~ this one's for you

posted 01-18-2002 01:22 AM            

Eventually, however, "Dr. William Kister, University of New Mexico biologist, offered the spider-web explanation tentatively, without examining the material" (News-Tribune, Oct.27), and this was accepted as the solution to the mystery...'

January 1963: Puerto Garibaldi, Argentina.
'According to La Gaceta of January 17, flying saucers were seen recently over Puerto Garibaldi in the Province of Entre Rios, and "angel hair" was seen to fall from them. Subjected to careful analysis, the substance was found to consist of boron, silicon, calcium, and magnesium.

October 27th, 1954: Florence, Italy.
When subjected to heat it turned to a darker shade and volatilized, leaving a fusible transparent residue showed its principal constituents to be: boron, silicon, calcium, and magnesium. Hypothetically, the substance examined by us microchemically could have been a boron-silicon glass."

October 9th, 1953: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Analysis of the sample indicated that the shapeless mass contained traces of Boron, Calcium, Magnesium and Silicon in a nylon-like compound.

Note: The elements stated in this analysis are exactly the same as those of the analysed sample that fell over Victoria, Australia, in October 1953, and also the principal constituents reportedly found in the sample that fell over Florence, Italy, in February 1954. Surely, no one reading these three accounts could lightly dismiss this common feature as mere coincidence - Daniel Transit 24.12.2000.
Funny Daniel, but i just copied this ~ then read your next sentence afterwords!

Other “co insidences” throughout the years
melts in the had
falls after objects observed in sky emit “white plume trails”
people used to be able to mention this phenomenon and get the police to investigate pronto

The properties of spiders web are well known, and apparently disappearing to touch is not one of them!

Montgomeryl: Some spider webby stuff fell from the sky here (no spiders were sighted). It fell in strands and occasionally in globs, and was reported be phosphorescent. November 21, 1898.

The explainers-away were almost unanimous in attributing such reports to the activities of spiders, borne aloft by the wind and thermals on their gossamer threads and deposited many miles away. Although this theory convincingly explained some of the reports, it was obviously not possible to fit it to reports such as those from Oloron and Gaillac, even allowing for possible embellishment and exaggeration in the published accounts. Nevertheless, the pundits could think of no better rationalization, so spiders' webs it had to be.

posted 01-18-2002 01:40 AM            

The common garden spider (genus Araneus) produces spider silk with extraordinary properties. Researchers at Nexia Biotechnologies Inc. and US Army Solider Biological Chemical Command have mimicked this process.

Montreal, Quéébec, Canada, and Natick, Massachusetts, January 17, 2002
Nexia Biotechnologies Inc. (TSE:NXB) and the U.S. Army Soldier Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM) have reported in this week’’s journal of Science that they have made the world’’s first spider silk fibers from man-made materials with properties similar to natural spider silk.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-making-spider-s ilk0117jan17.story?coll=sns-ap-science-headlines
Jean Herbert of the Army's Soldier Biological Chemical Command also hailed the production of the fiber in water as a breakthrough.
That process can't be scaled up to industrial levels, however, Turner said. Thus, his company is now turning to goats, inserting the spider gene into them with the goal of producing the protein in large quantities in their milk.

posted 01-18-2002 04:21 PM            

I have started a photo album page at http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/triker/chemtrails.html to gather and organize my own observations of CT's and other stuff for anyone who wishes to view tham. This site is just starting so bear with me. I will try to keep it "PHOTO" rich and "TEXT" poor as to the effect "A picture paints a thousand words".

posted 01-18-2002 08:35 PM            

All this new web information is getting really weird. I don't buy for a minute the usual explaination of the webs being made by spiders. The idea that these could be the result of alien intervention really gives it a strange twist. Darn right creepy.