There are two forms of precipitation: rain and ice. You would have come across raining candies in movies and novels. You would have heard about raining spiders in Brazil and raining spiders in Jamaica. But, how can it rain spiders? Is it a kind of natural phenomenon, or is it a bad omen? No matter how creepy it sounds, it has recently happened in several places. Let us find out the reason for the rain.
1. What do you Mean by Raining Spiders?
During a spider rain, hundreds and thousands of spiders are witnessed falling from the sky onto the ground. The event of spiders falling from the sky is a common scenario in many regions of the world. Brazil, Australia, and some regions of the United States often have witnessed them floating in the sky. Sometimes, they fall in a large number and on people. (Also read How Do You Get Chiggers Out of Your Yard?)
2. Which Spiders are involved in Spider Rain?
Though the talent of ballooning is found in every spider, it’s most common among spiders like:
- Crab spiders (Thomisidae),
- Sheet-weaver spiders (Linyphiidae),
- Wolf spiders (Lycosidae),
- Orb-weaving spiders (Araneidae).
One more commonly found spider in the spider rain is Arachnids. (Also read How is Silk made from Silkworm?)
3. What Conditions are Favourable for Mating of Spiders?
Maximum species of spiders prefer temperatures up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). But this is not an ideal temperature. They can be found roaming around and falling during the spring. This time of the year is considered the mating period in which they also lay eggs. This activity is among the common behaviors of several spider species. Actually, these spiders are not falling from the sky. Can it rain spiders even when they are on their webs and not falling from the sky? Continue reading to find the answer. (Also read What Animal has the Longest Pregnancy?)
4. What is Ballooning?
Can it rain spiders and is Ballooning carried out by several spider species? The activity is carried out by Spiderlings or baby spiders to move from their birthplace to someplace else. They do so to reach where there is not a neck and throat competition for food. Read the following points to know what actually happens in ballooning:
- The spiders climb on the top of poles or tall trees or whatever tall thing they notice.
- Then, they start throwing their web silk thread in the air. These threads get conjoined with other spider’s threads or get stuck to another pole or tree.
- Eventually, when thousands of spiders throw threads simultaneously, the web becomes denser and stronger.
- Then, these spiderlings climb on the threads, and the web is lifted up and down with the air current. The process of covering an area with its web is known as ballooning. (Also read Do only female spiders build webs?)
5. What Conditions are Required for Raining?
A large number of spiders gather at one place to travel. Can it rain spiders for this reason? Until the following mentioned conditions are not present, spiders continue to hang on the widespread web that they have made. The presence of normal winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures are specifically needed conditions for ballooning. But, if the weather changes, they want to get down from their webs. When they get down, it looks like they are falling from the sky on a town or a particular region. And when the weather conditions are in their favor, then they rise again onto their webs. (Also read Why Are Pink Dolphins Pink?)
6. What are the Raining spiders in Brazil?
Some of the known raining spider species found in Brazil are:
- Parawixia Bistriata
- Trichonephila Clavipes,
- Gasteracantha Cancriformis,
- Alpaida Leucogramma,
- Argiope Argentata
Anelosimus Eximius is another famous species found in the region of Panama to Argentina which is famous for its ballooning nature. (Also read Where are Leeches found?)
7. What are the Raining spiders in Jamaica?
Can it rain spiders in the country, Jamaica? Well, yes, the tropical climate of Jamaica is very favorable for the ballooning process. Some dangerous species of their raining spiders are:
- Black spiders,
- Brown Widow spiders,
- Banana spiders,
- Brown recluse spiders,
- Giant House Spiders,
- Daddy Long Legs
So regions like Brazil, Jamaica, Australia, etc., witness this phenomenon of spiders raining every now and then. They are now used to it, and it causes no disturbances in their daily routine. (Also read 6 Stork Delivery Facts)
8. Are Spiders Threat to Humans?
No matter how dangerous they seem to you, they are an essential part of the ecosystem. If you encounter any such phenomenon, then you should let it be because it is a part of their natural habitat. Moreover, 95% of spider species are not harmful to humans. Most of them are not venomous. So you don’t need to worry much. (Also read Why do some people fear spiders?)
