Spiders saving people from mosquitoes in flooded Wagga Wagga

Despite the devastation brought about by the current flooding in Victoria, there is at least some respite for residents. Some amazing spider behaviour might actually be protecting them from mosquitoes. Not only are these normally solitary wolf spiders (Lycos leukarti) putting up with each other's company, but thanks to an abundance of food in the form of mosquitoes their webs are covering the excellently named Wagga Wagga in cobwebs. Normally the spiders would eat their webs when they are done with them but the flood waters mean an abundance of mosquitoes and so an abundance of adult spiders. In fact, Brett Finlayson from Taronga Zoo suggested that the over abundance of spiders in Wagga Wagga is actually protecting the local population from the mosquitoes.

Finally, a positive spider story in the mainstream media - hooray for The Sydney Morning Herald!

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