What is this? I found a strange tangle in a nesting box (see photo).

September 29, 2022

The silky fibers were very tough. I could not find out the contents of the pale elongated tubes.

Asker: Jean, 71 years old

Answer

Hi Jean,

this is the web of a teasel spider (Amaurobius sp.). This is a large, impressive but totally harmless spider. The cocoons contain her eggs.

Kind regards,

Rudy

Arachnology Zoology Biodiversity

Royal Museum for Central Africa
Leuvensesteenweg 13 3080Tervuren
http://www.africamuseum.be