In a sulfur cave on the border Greece And Albania Scientists have discovered a giant web that is likely largest in the world. This dark and humid “metropolis” is home to more than 111,000 spidersreports Live Science citing a study published in the journal Subterranean Biology.
The web covers about 106 square meters and is a dense weave of thousands of funnel-shaped networks combined into one giant structure. It stretches along the walls of a narrow passage, not far from the entrance to the cave, and is completely immersed in darkness.
A colony that science did not know about
According to the study’s lead author, biologist Istvan Urak from Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvaniathis is the first documentary evidence colonial behavior in two widespread species of spiders – Tegenaria domestica And Prinerigone vagans. The scientist noted that previously these species were considered exclusively solitary hunters.
An unusual discovery was made by speleologists from Czech Speleological Society back in 2022, and later biologists conducted a genetic analysis of the population. The results showed that cave spiders differ in DNA from their relatives outside, which indicates adaptation to an extreme environment.
Ecosystem in the dark
Spiders do not exhibit cannibalism and do not hunt each other – their diet consists of bell mosquitoeswho feed bacterial films of sulfur bacteria. This digestive chain creates a closed ecosystem in the complete absence of light.
Scientists note that the sulfuric atmosphere of the cave, saturated with bacteria and humidity, changed behavior and microbiome spiders Their bodies have developed resistance to sulfur compounds, and food affects the composition of the microflora.
Nature never ceases to amaze
“Nature still holds countless surprises, – said Istvan Urak. “We often think we already know everything about a species, but then it turns out that it is capable of completely new forms of behavior.”
Researchers emphasize the need preservation of a unique colonylocated on the territory of two countries. Further work is already underway to monitor this population to reveal new aspects of its evolution and interaction with the environment.
More Stories
Thessaly and Central Macedonia under the impact of Cyclone Byron: flooded railway tracks and blocked routes
Larisa is worried: the first houses are flooded after the Yenipeas River overflows
The EU presented a road map "quality employment" — Greece, as usual, is trailing behind