Nightmare fuel: World’s biggest spiderweb discovered in cave with over 111K spiders

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Scientists have discovered what might be the biggest spiderweb ever found – and it’s pretty terrifying! Over 111,000 spiders are sharing a massive cave on the border between Albania and Greece, creating a huge web that covers more than 1,100 square feet.

This isn’t a scene from The Lord of the Rings. This is a real place, and thankfully, it’s home to over 111,000 arachnids—not giant spiders!

A recent study published in Subterranean Biology details the discovery of a large network of funnel-shaped webs covering a narrow passage just inside Sulfur Cave. This cave, which is constantly dark, was formed over many years by the corrosive action of sulfuric acid.

István Urák, the lead researcher and a biology professor at Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, said he was stunned by what he saw, according to LiveScience.

He explained that seeing the web filled him with admiration, respect, and gratitude – feelings he believed were impossible to fully describe without experiencing it firsthand. “You really have to see it for yourself to understand,” he said.

Over 111,000 spiders found in pitch black cave with gigantic spiderweb

This large spider colony is the first time scientists have observed two different spider species living together in a shared structure. The colony contains approximately 69,000 house spiders (Tegenaria domestica) and over 42,000 cellar spiders (Prinerigone vagans).

Researchers have discovered a remarkably large group of spiders living together in Sulfur Cave. The study suggests the cave’s unusual, sulfur-rich environment likely caused these spiders to gather in unusually high numbers.

In 2022, cavers from the Czech Speleological Society first discovered the web and alerted researchers. Scientists then gathered samples in early 2024 and returned to thoroughly study the location.

People with a fear of spiders would probably avoid this cave at all costs, but scientists are excited about what it can teach them about how spiders behave.

“The natural world still holds countless surprises for us,” Urák said.

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2025-11-04 22:49