Country & Garden: Nature Notes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE FACT that the Guinness Book of Records has authenticated the claim for the largest spider's web ever known in the United Kingdom - a monster network 16ft 8in by 12ft 6in, found in Newent - will bring no comfort to arachnophobes. According to one expert, Paul Hillyard, our whole culture is peculiarly anti-spider: whereas other nationalities are indifferent to the creatures, we put them top of our hate list.
All spiders are predators; many species spin their webs in order to trap insects. Others go hunting, and some keep still, lying in wait till they jump on a victim.
For timid Britons, the main enemy is the house-spider, which can grow to three or four inches across. Males die at the end of their first year, but females live up to two years, and can survive the winter.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments