The trees in a Texas town are being taken over by spiders

RESIDENTS in a small town have been both spooked and left in awe by a blanket of spiders taking over their trees.

IT COULD be something out of a horror movie but unfortunately for the more skittish residents of a small town in Texas, it’s real.

Spiders have invaded their town and produced an eerie sight by cloaking 12 metre tall trees in a “communal” blanket of their webs.

“The spiders have been taking over,” said entomologist Mike Merchant, referring to a 100 metre stretch of road running through the Dallas suburb of Rowlett.

Speaking to Agrilife Today, he described a scene that wouldn’t be out of place in the 1990 classic film, Arachnophobia.

“Someone stepping off the road for a closer look will see thousands of lanky spiders darting among the webs that extend up to 40 feet into the trees,” he said.

The expert described the webs as having a “glistening” appearance which produced a “surreal quality” to the natural marvel.

The phenomenon which can appear in a number of countries around the world has been colourfully dubbed “spider rain” or “angel hair”.

Where's #Shelob and #Frodo? When the #SpiderWebs are this big it's time to run the other way http://t.co/0lMRghBOwX pic.twitter.com/S5nICO0Ckh

— AmericasMostHaunted (@amhaunted) August 9, 2015

The type of spider responsible is unconfirmed but is most likely a species known as Tetragnatha guatemalensis. Typically they would weave individual webs, however they’re known to build communal webs when the conditions of the habitat are conducive to their collaborative behaviour.

While very rare, Mr Merchant pointed to a similar 2007 case in nearby Lake Tawakoni which was constructed by the species.

“These types of spiders are unusual in that they are not aggressive to other spiders of the same species on the same web,” he told Agrilife.

Spiders in Dallas Rowlett. Picture: Mike Merchant/Texas A & M AgriLife Extension Service

The scene in Rowlett is not dissimilar to that which appeared in Goulburn, NSW earlier in the year. While the species of spider responsible was different, the result (and the reaction) were much the same.

Researcher Keith Basterfield, told news.com.au at the time that astonishing spectacle can occur in May or August in Australia, when sunshine follows rainfall.

“People are always amazed, they don’t know what it is and they’ve never heard of it,” he said.

When it happened in May this year, a number of Aussies took to social media sharing photos of the freaky infestation, like the one below.

The rare sight in Goulburn. Picture: Brad Newman

As for the spiders in Rowlett, they may be an unnerving sight for many people but the arachnids pose no danger to humans. The Tetragnatha guatemalensis species are not known to be bite or be aggressive towards people.

Mr Merchant likened their handiwork to a piece of natural artwork which he encouraged people to go out and see.

“But please don’t touch the art,” he said.