The Use of Spider Webs as Passive Bioaerosol Collectors

Spider webs were shown to be effective collectors of bioaerosols and airborne microorganisms. Spider webs were collected and analyzed for microbial content using two general microbial culture mediums. To be considered suitable passive collectors, webs had to satisfy three basic conditions; (1) collection of microorganisms without discrimination based on species or size, (2) collection under variable environmental conditions, and (3) saturation avoidance in the presence of strong microbial launching sources. Samples were collected from four locations near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, a waste water treatment facility, a commercial garden center, a secluded state park area, and a parking garage located within a medium size metropolitan area. These four locations provided appropriately varied environmental and physical conditions to test the collection parameters previously stated. A simple collection methodology was devised; microscopy cover glass slides were used as collection instruments. The methodology assured sterility during collection and permitted in situ microbial growth, observation, and enumeration. Microbial growth, both bacteria and fungi, were recovered from all collected spider web samples.