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Article: Spiders thrive after Maine's wet summer Falling leaves reveal abundance of arachnids; at least 600 species populate the state
- Article from:
- Bangor Daily News Bangor, ME
- Article date:
- October 18, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2004 Bangor Daily News Bangor, ME. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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It's not just the Halloween season making you see huge spiders
dangling in shadowy doorways. This year's wet summer was a boon for
spiders, and Maine is seeing the result as thousands of the eight-
legged creatures reach maturity this fall.
The explanation is simple: Damp weather has meant an easier time
for water-breeding insects, such as mosquitoes, and more prey means
larger spiders that can produce more offspring.
"If insects thrive, the spiders thrive. Spiders have been able to
thrive very well this year," said Daniel T. Jennings, a retired
entomologist from Garland.
But most likely, we're also just paying more attention this time
of year. With the leaves off the trees, spiders are more ...