Question
It has been very rainy here (in Gloucester, MA) for 2 days and I came out to find dozens (and dozens!) of flat spider web "tents" on my lawn.  I have read several articles on the net and figure they were built by grass or funnel spiders.  What I was wondering is...Did they build them to use as umbrellas?  I have never seen them before in such quantity and the rain made me think they were shelters.  If that is the case...it is amazing!  What smart and amazing critters!  Just wanted to know if what I thought could be true.  Thanks

Answer
The webs are built to catch insects. Usually small flying insects. They are there most of the time but the dew in the morning makes them show up better. The webs are found in many locations and serve as both a platform on which the spider captures prey and as a retreat in which the spiders can remain hidden. The grass spider web is not sticky but relies upon a network of threads above the sheet to divert or impede insect flight, causing them to fall onto the sheet, where they are captured by the rapidly running grass spider.