There are three families of webspinners that occur in the US. They live gregariously usually consisting of a single wingless female and her brood of young. Most males have two pairs of nearly equally long wings. Furthermore, the webspinners are rare. (Second Edition, American Insects, Ross H. Arnett, Jr., 2000).
Just to the left of the Black Vultures’ nest on the rock face, was the web of a Webspinners (Embiidina). BugGuide says the “silk galleries are spun under stones and bark, in debris, cracks in soil or bark, among grass roots, lichens, mosses, and epiphytic plants”. Their food is known to be “dead plant material plus lichens and mosses found around their galleries”.
The silk gallery was very easy to see on the rock. However, I have seen these webs in debris before and not realized what it was. Now I do and you too. 😉
So I looked carefully for any signs of the critter. All I saw was frass. LOL What I found most interesting about this critter was they produce the silk from hollow hairs on the middle segments of the tarsus.
Now of course, it makes me want to see one ever more. However, since embios means lively, I better look fast.
Claire told Jeanne about webspinners years ago. Last night Claire told me she was able to collect a couple from Jeanne’s place, Fossil Hill back then. Nice to see that the webspinnners are still at Fossil Hill!
I don’t think I have ever noticed a web like that before this photo. Now I have to look up Webspinners and kerp my eyes open.
Wow, I’ve seen webs like that too and just presumed they were made by spiders. Cool!
I dont think I’ve ever seen that either. Interesting. Now i have to look up webspinners. You sure make me look up a lot.
🤣
Claire told Jeanne about webspinners years ago. Last night Claire told me she was able to collect a couple from Jeanne’s place, Fossil Hill back then. Nice to see that the webspinnners are still at Fossil Hill!
It’s the only place I’ve seen them!!