pursewebs on birch
A purseweb spider’s web, according to Steven Tessler, Ph.D., is “a sock-like silken tube that is often found attached vertically at the base of trees and extends into a burrow below ground where the spiders spend most of their time. When unwitting prey happen to walk upon the web they are stalked invisibly from inside, stabbed with large fangs through the silk, and then dragged inside where they are eaten.” (Photo by Steven Tessler, Ph.D.)