Giant Spider Web found in Cave

November 11, 2025

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Scientists have discovered what may be the largest spider web in the world inside a cave stretching across Greece and Albania.

The web, covering 106 square metres, is home to about 100,000 spiders from two different species—something never seen before.

The cave, known for its strong smell like rotten eggs, was first explored in 2022 by adventurers who told scientists about the strange find. Inside, researchers found about 69,000 barn funnel weaver spiders and 42,000 sheet weaver spiders all living together in a massive web.

This discovery surprised experts because spiders usually prefer to live alone, especially the barn funnel weaver, which is known to eat other smaller spiders like the sheet weaver. Yet in this dark cave, the two species worked together peacefully.

The cave’s strange environment might explain why. It has no light but plenty of food, thanks to tiny midges flying around. These midges feed on crustaceans, which in turn eat microbes living in the cave. The spiders then eat the midges, giving both spider species enough to survive without needing to fight.

The cave formed from sulphuric acid reacting with gases underground, creating a unique place for animals to live. DNA tests also showed that the cave spiders are different from their relatives outside, meaning they may have changed to suit their unusual home.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research and writing.

Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

In a Year 8 classroom, students researched local histories and shared stories from their own whānau. One group interviewed kaumātua about changes to the river over time. Another group collected photographs and maps showing how the town had grown. The teacher explained that learning was stronger when students connected new information to familiar places and experiences. At the end of the week, the class displayed their findings on a wall chart and wrote short reflections about what they had learned.

Which option best summarises the passage?

The teacher said learning is stronger when students work in groups and display their findings. Students researched local history and connected their learning to familiar people, places, and experiences. Kaumātua explained changes to the river, which helped the students understand the town’s growth. The class made a wall chart, wrote reflections, and used photographs to show how the town had changed.