Nature Makes Some Cool, Creepy Art in Dallas Suburb

by Paula Newton August 11, 2015

Artist collectives are so popular now that spiders are joining in on the fun. In Lakeside Park South located in Rowlett, a suburb in Dallas, they have taken over the trees along a stretch of road and installed a gigantic communal web that climbs up to 40 feet into the trees. While this phenomenon is very rare in the U.S., the same thing happened in 2007 only 35 miles away.

“If you get the chance to take a drive along CA Roan Drive in Rowlett,” says Mike Merchant, urban entomologist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Dallas, “you might want to take a few moments to stop and admire this spider handiwork. But please don’t touch the art.”

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Mike Merchant

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Mike Merchant

Photo: Getty Images/Rob Stothard

Photo: Getty Images/Rob Stothard

Photo via Fox4News

Photo via Fox4News

Photo by Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News Staff

Photo by Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News Staff

Photo WFAA via WTSP

Photo WFAA via WTSP

3 comments

3 comments

Robert Arber August 11, 2015 - 10:41

not nearly as dramatic are the “tent caterpillars” that populated cottonwood trees in New Mexico making tents that are about 1 ft. x 1. ft. dozens in one tree. Unfortunately they are considered pests

Reply
islandofmind August 11, 2015 - 11:21

Beautiful pests

Reply
BRENNER August 18, 2015 - 12:20

You’d think these spiders would be thoughtful enough to set out some chilled Topo Chico and a few trays of, like, Camembert and Stilton, maybe a bowl of Triscuits, for visitors.

A platter of dead locusts, at the very least.

Tsk.

Reply

Leave a Comment

Funding generously provided by: