Odkrili največjo pajkovo mrežo na svetu, ki je dom kar 111.000 pajkom
![WORDS BYLINE: Hayley ChamberlainResearchers have identified what may be the largest spiderweb on Earth — a vast colony of more than 111,000 spiders thriving in total darkness within a cave along the Albanian-Greek border.According to a study published on October 17 in Subterranean Biology, the "extraordinary" structure occupies 1,140 square feet (106 square meters) of wall surface in a narrow, low-ceilinged passage near the cave's entrance. The colossal web is formed by thousands of interconnected, funnel-shaped webs, creating a dense, seamless network.This is the first documented case of colonial behaviour between two common spider species — and possibly the largest spiderweb ever recorded — said lead author István Urák, associate professor of biology at Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania in Romania."The natural world still holds countless surprises for us," Urák told Live Science. "If I were to attempt to put into words all the emotions that surged through me [when I saw the web], I would highlight admiration, respect, and gratitude. You have to experience it to truly know what it feels like."The massive web was found inside Sulfur Cave, a cavern formed by sulfuric acid created from the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in groundwater. The structure was first spotted in 2022 by cavers from the Czech Speleological Society during an expedition to the Vromoner Canyon. In 2024, a team of scientists collected samples from the site, which Urák later analysed before leading his own expedition to the cave.The research identified two species living in the colony — Tegenaria domestica (the barn funnel weaver or domestic house spider) and Prinerigone vagans. Urák and his team estimated there were roughly 69,000 T. domestica and more than 42,000 P. vagans individuals. DNA analyses confirmed these two species dominate the population.Sulfur Cave's spider community stands out as one of the largest ever observed. The behaviour of these species is particularly unusual, Urák noted, since "a unique case of two species cohabiting within the same web structure in these huge numbers" had never been documented before.Ordinarily, barn funnel weavers would prey on P. vagans, but the lack of light in the cave likely diminishes their vision, reducing predatory behaviour. Instead, the spiders feed on non-biting midges that consume microbial biofilms — slimy layers formed by sulfur-oxidising bacteria — coating the cave's surfaces. A sulfur-rich stream running through the cavern sustains this ecosystem, supporting bacteria, midges, and their spider predators.The spiders' diet has a measurable impact on their biology: their microbiomes are significantly less diverse than those of the same species living outside the cave, gut analyses revealed. Genetic data also suggest that the cave-dwelling spiders have evolved distinct traits adapted to their dark, sulfuric environment."Often, we think we know a species completely, that we understand everything about it, yet unexpected discoveries can still occur,» Urák said. «Some species exhibit remarkable genetic plasticity, which typically becomes apparent only under extreme conditions. Such conditions can elicit behaviours that are not observed under "normal" circumstances."Preserving this remarkable colony is essential, Urák added, even though the cave's location on the border between two countries poses challenges. The researchers are now preparing another study that will offer deeper insights into Sulfur Cave's extraordinary inhabitants.Featuring: The 1, 140 square feet spider web found deep inside a Sulphur Cave is home to a mixed colony of two different speciesWhen: 05 Nov 2025Credit: Urak et al./Subterranean Biology/INSTARimages**EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUPPLIER.**,Image: 1050553809, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUPP, Model Release: no, Credit line: -/INSTAR Images/Profimedia](/media/2025/11/10/385719/Art-profimedia-1050553809-600.webp?1762894022)
Znanstveniki so odkrili največjo pajkovo mrežo na svetu. Nahaja se v jami Sirna na albansko-grški meji, v njej pa živi več kot 111.000 pajkov. Mreža prekriva 106 m² sten v ozkem prehodu z nizkim stropom in je sestavljena iz tisočev med seboj povezanih lijakastih mrež, ki tvorijo gosto, neprekinjeno strukturo. Kolonijo sestavljata dve vrsti “Tegenaria domestica” in “Prinerigone vagans”. Znanstveniki ocenjujejo približno 69.000 osebkov prve vrste ter več kot 42.000 osebkov druge. Biologi poudarjajo, da gre za prvi dokumentirani primer kolonijskega sobivanja obeh vrst v isti mreži, celotno odkritje pa označujejo kot izjemno. Po jami teče potok s stalno temperaturo 26 °C in obilico žvepla, ki hrani nekatere tamkajšnje organizme. Pajki imajo tu tudi veliko kironomidov (družina Chironomidae) in drugih nevretenčarjev, ki jim služijo kot hrana. •