A surreal spectacle in the Sorek River: A giant web blanket envelops the vegetation, as millions of dagger spiders have joined together to form giant mats along the banks of the stream.
Behind the phenomenon lies the ecological dynamics of the culture of millions of local spiders, of the dagger type, which feed on a 'buffet' of billions of tentacles.
The cause of the spider outbreak is the flow of sewage and excess organic matter in the stream, which created an ideal habitat for the breeding of billions of mosquitoes and midges. The enormous abundance of food attracted huge quantities of spiders to the area, which weave millions of webs close together. Over time, the individual webs intertwine into a uniform, giant blanket of webs that covers everything in its path.
Dagger spiders are characterized by an elongated body, long legs, and protruding jaws. They utilize the vegetation along the water to hunt with maximum efficiency, and these days provide one of the most unique natural spectacles.
Israel Nature and Parks Authority volunteer Yehiam Dahan documented a spectacular spectacle Along the banks of a river Sorek: "The feeling there is simply amazing. It looks like a picture from a science fiction movie. Vast areas are covered in a giant spider web. It gives the feeling as if no one was here and everything is covered in spider webs.".
