Sunday 5 September 2010

Venus Pool - Arachnophilia take 3

This is probably the last installment for 2010 on the Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi) colony at VP but covers images of their legacy, vital for their continued existence! We've seen the males and females together, they have mated (very bad news for the now consumed males) and the females are getting bigger!

This female was in the open grass of the seed crop field and is the largest I've seen so far....








One or two unusual angles of this charismatic spider.....










Here's their legacy. Courtesy of the spider minder Helen who pointed me in the direction of their fascinating egg cases. These are amazing structures over 2cm across like a huge papery seed capsule with a coccoon of eggs within. The capsule is available in either plain or striated versions and can be spun to order!








The adults will die, the egg cases will overwinter and given their success following last years extreme cold, it will be astonishing if they don't survive! I look forward to bringing you images of hatching spiderlings next Spring......