From the livescience article linked by another poster: biofilm produced by sulfur-eating bacteria, which in turn metabolize sulfur from the sulfur-rich stream in the cave.

So the whole food-chain here is: sulfur -> bacteria -> midges -> spiders.

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ginko 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

Seems like a great place for spider-eating frogs to move into.

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oersted 2 days ago | parent [-]

> The environment, too, is unusually protected. The cave is hard to reach and is filled with foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide gas, in concentrations too great for most animals to live there.

	▲	IAmBroom 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		I don't know why she swallowed a\ f\l\y\ rotten eggs.

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3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

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