Arachnophobes and anyone generally repulsed by creepy-crawlies may want to steer clear of Aitoliko, Greece for the time being. That's because one of the small town's beaches has been completely engulfed by a massive spider web that spans nearly 1,000 feet from end to end. Fortunately, though, the eight-legged creatures responsible for the cloaking the swath of land in silk aren't haunting locals with the sounds of children singing. The beach, which sits roughly 200 miles west of Athens, has been overtaken by a web built by spiders of the Tetragnatha genus, whose population regularly explodes in the area around this time of year. Large webs taking over entire trees and shrubs aren't uncommon to see, but this season has spawned an especially large number of spiders thanks to an increase in the mosquito population in the area, and it's resulted in quite the sticky spectacle. According to molecular biologist Maria Chatzaka, this is the biggest web to show up on the region since 2003, per The Guardian. “The spiders are taking advantage of these conditions, and are having a kind of a party. They mate, they reproduce and provide a whole new generation," she said. The spider-averse can take comfort in knowing that the ones living it up in the web aren't harmful to humans. However, that doesn't mean they're any less startling to see in the wild. They're known as "stretch" spiders thanks to their elongated bodies, and are light enough to race across the water faster than they do on land, according to The Guardian. And while the affected area is probably best left alone for the moment, experts insist it will soon return to normal once the spiders die off and the web degrades naturally. Then again, it's not like Greece has a shortage of stunning and spider-less beaches elsewhere. h/t The Guardian<doc-sep>The Greek lagoon of Aitoliko is postcard-worthy perfection—a rickety wooden pier stretching out into green-blue water, boats bobbing in their bays, rustic shrubbery lining the water’s edge. Lately, there’s something amiss in this idyllic spot. It’s mating season for stretch spiders, known scientifically as Tetragnatha genus, and to celebrate, they’ve covered almost everything in sight with a dense shroud of webs. A recent increase on mosquito populations had resulted in perfect conditions for a spider population explosion, molecular biologist Maria Chatzaki told Greek news websites. “The spiders are taking advantage of these conditions, and are having a kind of a party. They mate, they reproduce and provide a whole new generation.” Locals had seen stretch spider web coverage like this before, but not since 2003, she said. Other than being decidedly icky, there’s no real harm from all these webs. The spiders themselves aren’t dangerous, and they’re so short-lived that their party will soon be over. When it is, the webs will degrade naturally, leaving the plants beneath them undisturbed. Still, arachnophobes may choose to keep their distance for the time being. GIANNIS GIANNAKOPOULOS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Harmless—but still gross. GIANNIS GIANNAKOPOULOS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Halloween has come early to this Greek beach. GIANNIS GIANNAKOPOULOS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The dead flies are a nice touch. GIANNIS GIANNAKOPOULOS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Beach goth vibes. Correction: An earlier version of this article named the lagoon as Aikitiko instead of Aitoliko.<doc-sep>Warmer weather conditions in Greece have led to a unique 300-metre long spider-web covering a beach in Aitoliko, Acarnania. According to reports, a vast area of greenery has been covered by the web and experts claim it is a seasonal phenomenon, caused by Tetragnatha spiders, which can build large nests for mating. There are hundreds of species of these spiders that live in various parts of the world. An increase in the mosquito population is also thought to have contributed to the rise in the number of spiders. Maria Chatzaki, professor of molecular biology and genetics at Democritus University of Thrace, said high temperatures, sufficient humidity and food created the ideal conditions for the species to reproduce in large numbers. “It’s as if the spiders are taking advantage of these conditions and are having a kind of a party,” she told Greek media. “These spiders are not dangerous for humans and will not cause any damage to the area’s flora. The spiders will have their party and will soon die,” added Maria. Wildlife experts say it’s not uncommon for spiders to build massive nests for mating, especially when it’s hot and humid towards the end of summer.<doc-sep>Greece: Massive spider web appears overnight FREE for the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forfor the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. A tranquil beachfront has been transformed by the starving spiders. A giant web spanning 1,000ft has mysteriously appeared overnight in Aitoliko, a city in western Greece. The spiders are from the genus Tetragnatha, known as stretch spiders due to their elongated bodies. They are known to build webs near watery habitats, with some species even said to be able to walk on water. A video shows the web’s thick blanket cloaking trees, bushes and shrubberies near the shore, with a quick shot of two spiders that appear to be mating. The region’s high temperatures have formed ideal conditions for the spiders, who quickly transformed the shrubbery into a mating den to have their own “party”. An increase in the mosquito population is also thought to have contributed to a large number of spiders in the region. The rapid creation of such webs is said to be unusual, but not completely unheard of. Huge spider web: The high temperatures have made for ideal mating conditions The spiders will have their party and soon die Maria Chatzaki Despite being huge, local reports suggest the web appeared just overnight. The species of spider falls into the long-jawed orb weaver classification. Thankfully for residents, however, the species are harmless. The spiders live in many areas of the world, including the US and Europe. The giant web covers everything from trees and boats to shubbery The footage appears to show two Tetrangnatha spiders mating The spiders have formed a thick blanket of webs near the shore Man finds a spider crawling INSIDE his iMac screen<doc-sep>
A Greek beach has been turned into an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare, as spiders have covered it in a web some 300 metres long. A video, posted to YouTube by Giannis Giannakopoulos, shows the beach at the town of Aitoliko in western Greece under siege from the dense web. Giannis Giannakopoulos posted this video of the spider web to YouTube. The web has been built by spiders of the Tetragnatha genus. They are often known as stretch spiders, as they have elongated bodies – and in another worrying development for those who fear spiders – Tetragnatha extensa are small enough and light enough to be able to run across water faster than they can move on land. The cobweb has completely swamped vegetation on the beach. Photograph: Giannis Giannakopoulos/EPA However, the spiders of Aitoliko, which is 300km from Athens, don’t pose a threat. “These spiders are not dangerous for humans, and will not cause any damage,” molecular biologist Maria Chatzaki told Greek news websites. She explained that the seasonal phenomenon occurs when the spiders are mating, and that an increase in the mosquito population this year had lead to perfect conditions for a population explosion among the spiders. “The spiders are taking advantage of these conditions, and are having a kind of a party. They mate, they reproduce and provide a whole new generation.” She noted that the phenomenon had been seen before in the region in 2003, and that the spiders would soon die off, and the web would degrade naturally, leaving the vegetation undamaged.