A giant 'spider web', which turned out to be caterpillar weaves covering a bush, amazed onlookers in China.

Footage shows the web engulfing an entire bush in the forest in Quanzhou, Fujian province, on April 15. The mesmerised local could be heard expressing delight over the phenomenon.

He said the massive web was designed to cover a whole network of bushes and hoover up flies and other insects that came near.

He estimated that the massive spider web covered more than 30 square metres (323 square feet) in total and said that from a distance, it almost looked like a white cloud drifting down to hover over the travelling.

He added that the web was covered with many caterpillars, densely packed and squirming, that had probably fallen from the trees.

However, the web was not made by a spider but was from web-spinning caterpillars that worked together to create large protective canopies for themselves to keep them safe from predators and other environmental factors.