Lawn spider web
Discussion
My lawn (about half an acre) is covered in what appears to be masses of spider web. It's definitly not an optical illusion although it doesn't really feel of anything, not like when you normally touch a spider's web. It seems implausible that a spider or spiders would have made it but I can't think what else it might be.
What is it?
What is it?
grass widow said:
On a more serious note, spiders, loads of them spin them during the night. Seen it a few times, they look lovely first thing with the dew on them.
Do you know that this definitely happens or are you theorising on the basis of having seen these 'webs'. How many spiders would it require to cover such an area and what purpose does it serve?
I have this. I laid my lawn earlier this year, and what with the heat of the summer, and the drought restrictions, I think my poor old turf is suffering a bit.
I got the turf and the loam from a respected and reputable dealer, but I've had mushrooms, bare patches, these cobwebs, the whole host.
I have a feeling that I might need to fertilise, and lay some new seed. I'm waiting for spring now.
I got the turf and the loam from a respected and reputable dealer, but I've had mushrooms, bare patches, these cobwebs, the whole host.
I have a feeling that I might need to fertilise, and lay some new seed. I'm waiting for spring now.
SamHH said:
grass widow said:
On a more serious note, spiders, loads of them spin them during the night. Seen it a few times, they look lovely first thing with the dew on them.
Do you know that this definitely happens or are you theorising on the basis of having seen these 'webs'. How many spiders would it require to cover such an area and what purpose does it serve?
Yes seen spiders sitting on the webs waiting for lunch to drop by. Not sure how many it would take, would depend on the area they covered I suppose. But I should think spiders out numbers humans 100-1 or more.
Some spiders re-build their webs everyday. When the weather is warm and the midgies come out, the spiders get busy to catch as many as they can, you can literally see them building their webs to catch the midgies as they come out.
Hate big spiders, but they're fascinating creatures to watch.
www.clocsen.org/caldy/Text/Feature10.html
However at this time of the year the spiders are coming to the end of their short lives. The silvery sheets of gossamer we see on the lawns in the morning are made by countless minute spiders. These ground dwellers, sometimes called money spiders, are tiny creatures, 2mm (1/16th inch) long. Each makes a web that may be no bigger than a postage stamp but can be so numerous that they completely cover the ground.
Hope that explains everything
However at this time of the year the spiders are coming to the end of their short lives. The silvery sheets of gossamer we see on the lawns in the morning are made by countless minute spiders. These ground dwellers, sometimes called money spiders, are tiny creatures, 2mm (1/16th inch) long. Each makes a web that may be no bigger than a postage stamp but can be so numerous that they completely cover the ground.
Hope that explains everything
Compared with my own lawn, the picture abouve looks like a very light dosing.
I'm no horticulturalist, but I think it's a fungus issue myself. I have a feeling that the webs themselves are probably created by spiders, but they are an indication of what is happening in the soil below. The same is true when you actually see or have toadstools in your lawn.
I think it's the combination of the dry summer and the wet autumn. It's been aggrevated in my case because the poor old grass was relatively weak (being turf) in the first place.
I'm not sure, but I think what's happening is that the roots of the grass themselves died in the drought, and now they're wet they're rotting. They make excellent nutrition for fungi and small mites. The spiders then feed on the mites.
Fortunately for me, I'm now getting many more worm trails that I was earlier in the year. In the short term they look really bad, because the soil is bare and wet, but the worms themselves will help to get the balance of the soil back.
I'm no horticulturalist, but I think it's a fungus issue myself. I have a feeling that the webs themselves are probably created by spiders, but they are an indication of what is happening in the soil below. The same is true when you actually see or have toadstools in your lawn.
I think it's the combination of the dry summer and the wet autumn. It's been aggrevated in my case because the poor old grass was relatively weak (being turf) in the first place.
I'm not sure, but I think what's happening is that the roots of the grass themselves died in the drought, and now they're wet they're rotting. They make excellent nutrition for fungi and small mites. The spiders then feed on the mites.
Fortunately for me, I'm now getting many more worm trails that I was earlier in the year. In the short term they look really bad, because the soil is bare and wet, but the worms themselves will help to get the balance of the soil back.
Edited by dilbert on Saturday 4th November 15:51
Lots more confirming it's fungus, haven't found any reference to them being made by spiders.
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/l
http://msucares.com/lawn/lawn/turf/06
Are those spider webs or disease on your lawn?
Are those silky threads spider webs or Sclerotinia homeocarpa that you see early in the morning on your lawn?
Sclerotinia homeocarpa, better known as dollar spot, is a common fungal disease that attacks most warm season turf species, but most severe on bermudagrass and zoysia. It occurs when temperatures are between 50 – 95 degrees with high relative humidity or extended periods of leaf wetness. The disease is most severe when the turf is growing slowly either from entering or leaving dormancy, or from nutritional stress particularly the lack of nitrogen.
The fungus generally appears as small, circular spots about the size of an old silver dollar, thus the name dollar spot, even though these spots can be as large as 2-8 inches in diameter. Early symptoms on individual leaves are chlorotic (yellow) areas that become water-soaked and later turn a bleached straw color.
During early morning hours, when dew is present, you may observe the fungal growth on top of the turf leaf blades that resemble tiny spider webs. Upon close examination, the spider webs will have a hole in the center and the tiny threads will be spun in a circular pattern. The fungal mycelium growth will disappear as the dew dries and the turf leaf blades will begin to turn yellow.
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/l
http://msucares.com/lawn/lawn/turf/06
cause of 'spiders webs' said:
Are those spider webs or disease on your lawn?
Are those silky threads spider webs or Sclerotinia homeocarpa that you see early in the morning on your lawn?
Sclerotinia homeocarpa, better known as dollar spot, is a common fungal disease that attacks most warm season turf species, but most severe on bermudagrass and zoysia. It occurs when temperatures are between 50 – 95 degrees with high relative humidity or extended periods of leaf wetness. The disease is most severe when the turf is growing slowly either from entering or leaving dormancy, or from nutritional stress particularly the lack of nitrogen.
The fungus generally appears as small, circular spots about the size of an old silver dollar, thus the name dollar spot, even though these spots can be as large as 2-8 inches in diameter. Early symptoms on individual leaves are chlorotic (yellow) areas that become water-soaked and later turn a bleached straw color.
During early morning hours, when dew is present, you may observe the fungal growth on top of the turf leaf blades that resemble tiny spider webs. Upon close examination, the spider webs will have a hole in the center and the tiny threads will be spun in a circular pattern. The fungal mycelium growth will disappear as the dew dries and the turf leaf blades will begin to turn yellow.
The two links above are to American sites, I assume we can get the same problem over here.
If it is a fungus how quickly does it spread? I.e. would your lawn be clear one day and covered by the next with it?
I've tried to locate the episode on Life in the Undergrowth which shows the phenomenom caused by spiders, has anyone else seen it?
If it is a fungus how quickly does it spread? I.e. would your lawn be clear one day and covered by the next with it?
I've tried to locate the episode on Life in the Undergrowth which shows the phenomenom caused by spiders, has anyone else seen it?
FourWheelDrift said:
Lots more confirming it's fungus, haven't found any reference to them being made by spiders.
Look further up the page and you will see the reference that you have missed? As it says its spiders and explains why.
The dollar spot fungus is as it says the size of a dollar piece. The spider webs are about as big as a hand and look so beautiful.
Edited by c3ber on Saturday 4th November 18:03
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