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Photo: Massive Spiderweb Found in Missouri Appears Capable of Trapping a Person

This massive spiderweb, photographed in Springfield, looks big enough to trap a full-grown person – and is fueling many Halloween nightmares.

MDC Media Specialist Francis Skalicky enjoys taking trail walks for his job. The Missouri Department of Conservation worker, however, may now have a reason to be more cautious on his next outing.

While out on his latest Springfield trail, Skalicky found something he never expected. Snapping a photo, the conservationist quickly takes to the MDC’s social media to post his find. And its going viral just in time for Halloween.

Conservationist photographs massive orb-weaver spiderweb

“MDC Media Specialist Francis Skalicky snapped a pic of the orb-weaver’s spiderweb while out on a trail in Springfield recently,” MDC writes. They attribute the massive spiderweb to a local species group: orb-weaver spiders. A number of these large arachnids live in Missouri, and their webs become noticeable in the fall. This – in turn – is when the spiders are at their largest, too.

Claims of the spiderweb being “large enough to capture a person”, however, may be overexaggerated.

“This one is a bit bigger than a dinner plate,” the MDC caption continues. Their social media goes on to clarify that it is the angle of the photo – not the web itself – that makes it look so enormous.

Regardless of its true size – this is one incredibly impressive display of nature.

Orb-weaver spiderwebs are massive, but harmless

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(Photo credit: Frank Bienewald/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Orb-weaver spiders are a common sight for homeowners and hikers. These larger arachnids are generally brightly-colored, with yellow to gold or orange markings on their abdomen and thorax. Each orb-weaving species is venomous. Their venom, however, is of low-toxicity, and not dangerous to humans.

While large and imposing, their bite poses little threat to people – even if someone manages to get caught in one of their enormous webs.

Such a feat, however, is unlikely to happen – even if this photo is the stuff of October nightmares.

[H/T NYPost]