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Terrifying Footage Shows Spiders ‘Raining’ Down Over Brazil — Why?

Feb. 12, 2013 10:28am

Hundreds (maybe thousands) of spiders raining down from the sky might be taken by some as a terrifying sign for the end of times or at least a reenactment of the final scenes from “Charlotte’s Web” where her brood hatches and all but three scamper away from Wilber. But the real-life occurrence of such a phenomenon in Brazil is actually a natural event.

According to the video description — yes, nightmarish footage was captured showing such a scene — the spiders congregated between electrical poles in Santo Antonio de Plantina.

Spiders in Huge Web Appear to Be Raining From Sky in Brazil

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

Wired spoke to University of British Columbia researcher, Leticia Aviles, who has knowledge about social spiders and said what is being observed in the video is “not really surprising.”

This doesn’t make what is going on here any less terrifying though, because Aviles said it is likely these spiders are hunting.

Spiders in Huge Web Appear to Be Raining From Sky in Brazil

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

Wired reported University of Cincinnati arachnologist George Uetz saying that the spiders sit on the webs to capture prey.

So the spiders aren’t technically coming down. The web is fixed, according to Uetz, but because it is so fine, it appears to be invisible. He thinks it is a large colony of Parawixia bistriata. 

Even still, the video footage is unsettling. Check it out:

Here’s a video showing a similar scene in Paraguay a couple years ago:

If it makes you feel any better, Wired reported that the venom of P. bistriata is not harmful to humans.

Check out more photos of P. bistriata, including up-close shots and a view of how fine the web is, on this Flickr page.

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Comments (79)

1 2
  • Saff SGT
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:01pm

    Gods wrath, what has Brazil done to make God mad????

    Report this comment

    Saff SGT  
  • shagstar
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:55pm

    he,he,he,,,i can imagine the lead spider saying……heads-up boys,,,we’re on the wrong drop-zone!

    Report this comment

    shagstar  
  • midnightvelvet
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:41pm

    I must be in a minority. Spiders don’t scare me much. I tend to be glad to see them; they eat flies, mosquitoes and other pests.

    Report this comment

    midnightvelvet  
    • tonypro
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:57pm

      I admit I don’t care for them, a recluse, widow, or the likes can drop down your collar, and you’d never know it was there until you were bit.

      I’d rather deal with a snake, at least you can see them coming.

      Report this comment

       
    • oldjackpinesavage
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 5:55pm

      Turn them loose on the politicians!

      Report this comment

      oldjackpinesavage  
    • ltb
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 6:32pm

      I’m pretty sure I would have a heart attack if I got caught in a downpour of spiders.

      Report this comment

      ltb  
  • Zipit
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:36pm

    These spiders are from Mars! Take it up with Ziggy Stardust!

    Report this comment

    Zipit  
  • Robert Hawk
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:08pm

    Spiders congregating is not as much an issue as the fact that they congregated on power lines. The power lines would have a few common activities associated with them, the largest being magnetism. A power passes through these wires (theory of holes), a magnet field is generated around the wire. It appears as though these spiders are attracted to the magnetic field …. I guess the real question is why are the spiders gathering around highly magnetic power lines?

    Report this comment

    Robert Hawk  
    • Uncle Dave
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 3:53pm

      Multi-legged creatures are attracted to electricity and electronics (magnetic fields). Here in Florida we find bee’s and wasp’s nets in cable-TV pedistals, ant hills growing out of them and anything else electrical in the yards. I worked at a “semi-secured” facility (9-1-1 dispatch center). We were replacing circut boards and motors in the electric driveway gate all the time… ants…

      Why? You’ll have to ask someone more knowledgable than I…

      Report this comment

      Uncle Dave  
  • huey6367
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:07pm

    And people want to go to Brazil? I’ll pass

    Report this comment

    huey6367  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:02pm

    Gaaah! Now I have motion sickness after watching the first video. QUIT zooming in and out and going back and forth. Ugh. I could only get almost half-way through before I had to stop watching.

    Report this comment

    Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • bondroid
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:52pm

    COOL!! Bye bye ‘squiters!

    Report this comment

    bondroid  
  • eagledown
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:47pm

    The Bees Know.
    The Flies around Obama knows.
    Now the Spiders know.

    Report this comment

    eagledown  
  • cranberry
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:29pm

    how large are these? They look the size of a golf ball, don’t walk underneath is all i can say!

    Report this comment

    cranberry  
  • term limits for congress
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:07pm

    mini-drones

    Report this comment

    term limits for congress  
  • jackact
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:55am

    This must be part of the price that Brazil will have to pay for the corrupt BP oil leases that, in conjunction with a corrupt British government (and Obama’s assistance) helped release the murdering jihadist Lockerbie bomber.

    Report this comment

    jackact  
  • Warphead
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:35am

    Another “almost a” story.
    I really do not like reports like these. The headline is misleading & designed to draw you in. Once in you are very disappointed. I do not see how any media outlet would think this will please subscribers. Maybe some it does but for me I find it annoying. The headline “Terrifying Footage Shows Spiders “Raining” Down Over Brazil”. This is so misleading that it borders on being an outright lie. First of all we find out that it is an event that occurs there so why would it be “Terrifying” Secondly it says that spiders are “Raining Down” when in actuality they are suspended from webs just like any other spider does.Finally “Over Brazil” gives the reader the impression that it is occurring all over the country like some never seen before biblical event. Then you read further and find that it is localized and even expected. This type of reporting does nothing good for the integrity of the reporter and outlet. This reminds me of the headlines I used to see as a kid on those funny little magazines I would see on the coffee table when I would go to grandmas house back in the 70′s. What were they called? Something about people wanting to know. Oh yeah, that’s it the Enquirer. They were better than comic books back then. I see them today but all they write about now is who is cheating on who and which celebrity is dying of some rare disease. I am rapidly losing interest with The Blaze. Seems more like an ember these days. I wonder what happened?

    Report this comment

    Warphead  
    • Jarhead 88
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:11pm

      If you don’t like it here, leave, it’s pretty simple except for idiots.

      Report this comment

      Jarhead 88  
    • Warphead
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:11pm

      Look everyone. Head of a Jar 88 has appointed himself as the one who is to tell others what to do and start calling names. Remove that Gadsden flag from your pic. You disgrace it with your self centered opinions of others and telling others that they are idiots for having an opinion that differs from yours. The last time I checked anyone who signs up here is welcome to post a comment. And that Gadsden flag under your pic. I don’t think you know what it stands for. Don’t tread on me. Well, it seems you tread upon quite a few folks by calling them idiots for thinking a story about “Raining” spiders is not what they want to read about here. A simple statement attesting to your disagreement done in a respectful manor “without the inclusion of idiot” would be more in line with that expected from a Conservative, a gentleman and especially in uniform. You don’t own this site so don’t act like you do by telling others to leave. Son, I find your comment unacceptable, rude, inappropriate and unbecoming a soldier. Son. If I were your CO you’d be getting an LOR faster than you can say “My Papa Hotel”.

      Report this comment

      Warphead  
    • Warphead
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:23pm

      88 Ain’t don’t mean how many keys on a piano. I haven’t ever seen a piano playing gang member biker before. He# it could be the boy’s birth date for all I know. He frosted me with that “idiot” comment.

      Report this comment

      Warphead  
    • UNALIEN
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:36pm

      WARPHEAD

      the reason for lighter stories is to draw new people, think about it most people won’t read the serious stuff, all media outlets use “interesting” stories to draw in a new audience. So, a mix is to reach a wider audience and potentially draw new people to the more serious stuff that they may otherwise never see

      Report this comment

      UNALIEN  
    • Steve Crisp
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:55pm

      Uh Warphead….

      That 88 has nothing to do with the keys on a piano. It is shorthand code for someone who associates with Nazis. The 8 stands for the eighth letter of the alphabet, namely H. 88 = HH = Heil Hitler.

      Those losers have all sorts of other “secret’ codes they use. Apparently they don’t have the nards to just come out and say what they actually believe so they hide behind kiddie codes.

      Report this comment

      Steve Crisp  
    • MastrSGT
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 12:44am

      @Warphead
      You said, “This is so misleading that it borders on being an outright lie” Yet everything you said after that came from this story. Everything in this story is to the point factual and accurate. How is that a lie? The headline is a hook as are all headlines. as for the weight of the story if you don’t like stories like this why would you spend so much time posting to them? I enjoyed this story it was something that was interesting and fun to watch. Especially showing my wife and daughter (deathly afraid of spiders) and seeing them react. I also dont think it’s to draw in or attract “new readers” as if new readers cant take being so serious right out of the gate. This is a fun scientific story. Haven’t most of you ever read a newspaper? If it were all political or front page serious stories the reader would be eating a bullet in the first week. Ok maybe they might stop reading it before they ate an actual bullet but you see my point.

      Have some fun in life I cant imagine taking this stuff so seriously. I promise there are much harder pills to swallow in life!

      Report this comment

      MastrSGT  
  • JRook
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:35am

    How’s about we leave the unique and reoccurring animal and insect reports to animal planet.

    Report this comment

    JRook  
    • Warphead
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:58am

      Hear, hear. I must agree, distinguished fellow

      Report this comment

      Warphead  
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:26pm

      I agree. If I want to be amused I can go to Sea World.

      Report this comment

      hatchetjob  
    • Warphead
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:42pm

      Hey Head of Jar. Why don’t you tell everyone what the “88″ means in your username. You see it in prisons all the time. You see it on motorcycle gangs jackets and patches. Hmm. Wonder what the significance of “88″ is. Must be some code. Wait. I think I have it. Could it be that simple? What if you counted up the alphabet to the eighth letter. Hmm. That is the letter “H.” So two eights together is “HH.” Still more code. What could “HH stand for when someone uses it to represent themselves. Well, after a little digging I found out. Maybe everyone else might want to find out what it means too. It’s right there in the Urban dictionary. Prison guards, police, sheriffs’ departments are all familiar with “88.”

      Report this comment

      Warphead  
    • chips1
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:58pm

      I thought 88 was the number of keys on a piano.

      Report this comment

      chips1  
    • Brasil2520
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:20pm

      WARPHEAD

      I like the number 18

      Report this comment

      Brasil2520  
  • Inform
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:31am

    Well that’s just nasty.

    Report this comment

    Inform  
  • ColoradoMaverick
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:28am

    man, that’s gives me the heeby jeebies!

    Report this comment

    ColoradoMaverick  
  • kadster01
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:19am

    Doh! Just as I was considering a visit to Brazil….

    Report this comment

    kadster01  
  • wingedwolf
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:18am

    Those appear to be some very large bugs. I would have some very large holes in my house if they started dropping around here… 9mm size.

    Report this comment

    wingedwolf  
    • atechgeek
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:13pm

      That’s fun .. I go camping at a farm which happens to neighbor a creek and some ponds and the fall spiders get massive. I have a spider phobia and my Mini 14 does the trick. Actually I believe it vaporizes them. Very rewarding to an arachnophobic.

      Report this comment

      atechgeek  
  • solo1
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:13am

    nothing that a can of spray anti perspirant and a lighter wont cure.

    Report this comment

    solo1  
    • Warphead
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:55am

      WD 40 works better. If you want super range, try truck starting fluid in a can. “NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS”. These comments are for entertainment purposes only. Do not try this at home, at a friends house or anywhere. If you must do this make sure you are within sight of a Trauma Burn Center. Remember, Life Flight will not pick you up and take you to the hospital if you are on fire. It is written in the Obama Health Care Law, Page 4,267,496 paragraph 3401, subsection 679 under the heading of “Dangerous Air Cargo and other domestic terrorist threats.” It clearly states that “to knowingly board, be loaded or placed upon any aircraft within the United States and it’s Territories while on fire, in the act of burning, smouldering, smoking or emitting sparks” is considered an act of terrorism against the United States and thus subject you to be shot (with hollow point bullets) by Homeland Security agents and or certified representatives until such time you are deemed “extinguished.”

      Report this comment

      Warphead  
  • Cavallo
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:10am

    Creepy… note to self. Don’t move to Brazil.

    Report this comment

    Cavallo  
  • nomorpc4me
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:05am

    This is how obamacare work. It tries to cover everyone and really creeps you out.

    Report this comment

    nomorpc4me  
  • UNALIEN
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:46am

    Collectivism.. marxists spiders…

    Report this comment

    UNALIEN  
  • objectivetruth
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:44am

    Lets hope that the wolf spider doesn’t start this.Then again all the northerners coming down here would run like their feet were on fire.On second thought maybe we can can train them.Great yankeee deterent.
    Actually more like New York city deterent.They look a little like a tarantula.They aren’t poisonous but can bite.However if you leave them alone generally they will leave you alone.Unlike liberals or trolls.They attack anything that moves with their unique brand of stupidity.Its unique in the fact that even when proven totally wrong they will still argue the point.Browbeating on an industrial scale.

    Report this comment

    objectivetruth  
    • Warphead
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:31pm

      What would be bad is if the Australian Funnel Web spider started doing this. They are aggressive (will chase after you and attack.) Their bite will kill you without anti-venom. They are about as bad as a spider can get. I can see the headlines now.
      “New York in Panic. Funnel Web Spiders raining down from buildings. Mas-casualties.”
      In an unprecedented move today President Obama signs an executive order to Clone the late Steve Erwin after Congress becomes deadlocked on a decision. Federal Reserve Chairman & equally qualified Arachnologists, Ben Bernanke, in a secret meeting with President Obama concluded that the cloning of Steve Erwin is the only way to save the crumbling financial system that he blames on the spider outbreak. When questioned about the time involved between the actual clone procedure and the maturation of the Steve Erwin II Bernanke explains that we can borrow money from China and thus purchase spider proof space suits for the entire population of New York. President Obama has already awarded the contract to make and produce the spider proof space suits “Dubbed Spidey Suits” to the once defunct solar panel maker Solyndra. A Solyndra spokesman says that the suits environmental controls and motor/solenoid assist (the suits are too heavy for the average person to support and move without assist) will be completely powered by solar technology. Meanwhile, S C Johnson, the makers of “Raid” Insecticide stocks soared as news of the spider outbreak is spreadin

      Report this comment

      Warphead  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:40am

    although these are ‘hunting; breeding and diaspora could also produce large numbers.

    Report this comment

    Stoic one  
  • FiscalBill
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:33am

    Nope. I need an Iwo Jima style flame thrower STAT!

    Report this comment

    FiscalBill  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:46am

      Are you kidding me?You could export those puppies and make a fortune.Just release in a liberal zone.They really will crap their pants then.
      All jokes aside your idea would work and it would take something about that size.

      Report this comment

      objectivetruth  
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