spiders in post-flood pakistan: weaving survival
I HAVE A THING FOR SPIDERS, as you will know if you’ve read “And I Shall Have Some Peace There.” No, not a fear (I reserve that for snakes and lightning), but a fascination. I am a spider fan. Images I saw today from post-flood Pakistan of spiders who have cocooned up into the treetops by the millions to survive only increased my awe of these ever-weaving, creative, typically solitary creatures.
The tragedy that the 2010 floods represented for the people of Pakistan is incomprehensible, and in its own way so is the response of some of its tiniest creatures, the spiders. Nature—whether wreaking havoc, or bouncing back after adversity–continues to take my breath away.
See photos and a fuller explanation on DFIDs Flickr stream.
(Photo by Russell Watkins/U.K. Department for International Development, used under a Creative Commons license.)
What stunning pictures. I’m mesmerized. Beautiful and horrific at the same time. Great post.
Welcome, Thomas. Fascinating to see nature — both human, and spider — carrying on, each in its own way, after such devastation. Such strength and determination. See you soon again, I hope.
Amazing photographs! I am halfway through your book and am really enjoying it. I grew up in upstate NY (Cooperstown) and love your stories about the wildlife. It all sounds so familiar. My parent’s are avid gardeners and I have started container gardening on our deck in Connecticut. Lots of herbs, cherry tomato plants, geraniums and other toddler friendly fare. Also, and this is a real hoot, I loved your part about scrolling through TV shows. I rarely watch TV other than the news here or there, but my husband and I are addicted to MI-5. We started watching last fall and watch a new show at least once week. I just finished a draft of my cookbook and whenever I finished a recipe this winter I rewarded myself with a little Tom/Adam/Lucas. I am glad we are almost done now that spring is here – time to get back outside!
Hi, Kelsey. Sorry your comment was lost in spam for awhile (who knows why?). I am glad to hear you are enjoying the book. I just finished the last season of MI-5…horrible that there is no more. :(
Oh my. Those pictures are breathtakingly, hauntingly beautiful! I can’t stop looking at them. Marveling at the tenacity of spiders. Helps that I’m a spider-lover (named after one, in fact!), but I imagine those images would stop anyone in their tracks. Thanks so much for posting this!
This picture has recharged my passion for spider watching! They are so amazing. Thank you for the inspiration.
Su
Welcome, Su. I know some people were horrified by it, but I am riveted. Nature tries to somehow march on even in the face of the worst situations.
Hi, Marie. They are sort of like managers of things, aren’t they? Whenever I switch on a light in the night downstairs here, there is always someone scuttling across the floor, having been interrupted in his/her nonstop business… :)
I appreciate spiders. Can’t say I ‘love’ them, but I do appreciate what they do in the garden and in my house. They keep the pesky bugs in check!
I wonder if all those spider webs are inhibiting photosynthesis? And…all those spiders up in that tree, they must be eating each other!