Ohioans may be surprised by the large number of spiders living near at hand when heavy morning dew accentuates their gossamer creations. Their conspicuous web-work can be striking when highlighted by early morning sunlight along roadways. While each individual spider web functions as an effective insect trap, they are also beautiful structures.
There are over 600 species of spiders found in Ohio and most feed almost exclusively on insects. The spiders that are currently dominating (draping over?) landscapes are the Sheetweb Weavers (family Linyphiidae); the Funnel Weavers (family Agelenidae); and the Orb Weavers (family Araneidae).