Spider webs have spun their way across the North Island in recent days, with the arachnids leaving homes, fences, trees and reserves draped in gossamer from parts of Auckland to Hawke's Bay — and an expert says there's no need to worry.
The phenomenon, known as ballooning, happens when young spiders release strands of silk into the air and ride the wind — and even subtle electric currents — to find new places to live.
"No spiders have wings, but this is a way that they can fly," arachnologist Dr Fiona Cross said.
Cross, known as Dr Spider, said the spiders involved were typically small species — including so-called money spiders — but the numbers can run into the thousands.
"Some people might think, 'oh, this is a bit scary' — if you think about thousands of spiders in the air, you wonder where they'll land," she told 1News.
"But these spiders are harmless. They're just going about their little spidery lives."
'Silver sea'
Havelock North resident Kerrie Smith said the phenomenon had been hard to miss around town in the past few weeks.
"In the morning it looks like frost, but yesterday afternoon they reflected the sunlight," she told 1News.
"They're also just floating in the air. Yesterday, they were all over the washing when I brought it in."
In Napier, one social media user said Anderson Park was transformed when the light hit the silk.
"It looked like a silver sea yesterday when the sun shone on the silk — amazing."
Another said her family sat outside to watch the spiders drift overhead.
"It was really amazing how high in the sky they go."
Cross said ballooning usually occurs at this time of year, after a period of warm weather and plentiful food. Recent wet weather had also likely prompted the phenomenon.
"During the summer, the spiders will have been raising their young. Now, as it starts getting cooler, the young have matured and are looking for new places to live.”
Beyond the science, Cross said events like this offer a chance for people to see spiders in a positive light.
"This is such a good opportunity for a positive spider story," she said.
"It’s highlighting how beautiful this creation of spider silk is, and how the spiders are just so — they know the right time to be doing these things."
Some species were capable of travelling remarkable distances, she added — including between countries.
“There are spiders from Australia that can balloon all the way across to New Zealand,” she said. “It’s pretty amazing when you think about it.”
Cross hoped the shimmering spider webs seen across the North Island would inspire curiosity rather than fear.
"There's always something new to learn about spiders, and because there's over 50,000 species, you'll never know everything."
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