Spiders - anyone seen these before?

Post by **jtaylor** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:17 pm

This lovely lot were hanging-out on my gate this afternoon.
There were initially in a little ball, all together, but when I touched the gate they all spread out in all directions.

Never seen anything quite like it...... so I photographed them!

Mrs C. · Post by **Mrs C.** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:18 pm

I hope there are no arachnaphobic members of the forum Julian!!

Post by **jtaylor** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:19 pm

Thought it might scare a few people.....but then again, if people are scared of spiders that are this small, how did they survive CH at all!?!?

Vonny · Post by **Vonny** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:31 pm

My daughters would have a fit if they saw that many spiders at once!

Euterpe13 · Post by **Euterpe13** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:06 am

wow - are they as tiny as they appear, and have you tried to identify the species ?

( and no, I am not frightened of spiders, or snakes or birds, although I do have a strong desire to do away with pigeons...)

Exiled_in_Rome · Post by **Exiled_in_Rome** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:21 am

...look like Guatemalan Death Spiders to me... that's pretty bad news...I would forget about using the gate for a few weeks if I were you.. cut a hole in your hedge instead..

oh.. and don't forget to warn the postie and the milkman...

Tim_MaA_MidB · Post by **Tim_MaA_MidB** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:26 am

Of the approx. 650 species of spider in the Uk, this is probably the Common Garden Orb-Weaver Spider.

http://nbn.nhm.ac.uk/nhm/bin/nbntaxa.dl ... 0000008937

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Tue May 30, 2006 12:12 pm

It would appear Julian, that you disturbed a 'Mothers-Brood'.

Most female spiders are extremely good mothers, protecting their young until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

Another 'interesting' fact. Did you know that the British bog/marsh-spider is the largest spider native to Britain ? Its fangs are quite capable of puncturing the skin of a child with ease.

Just something for you NON-lovers of spiders to mull over !

Great Plum · Post by **Great Plum** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:25 pm

650 types of spider? Good grief...

hoob · Post by **hoob** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:44 pm

Vonny wrote:

My daughters would have a fit if they saw that many spiders at once!

Mine would fit if she saw even one of those!

We had one of those once - didn't know what this yellow ball was so poked it...

and ran

Vonny · Post by **Vonny** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:07 pm

hoob wrote:
Vonny wrote:

My daughters would have a fit if they saw that many spiders at once!
Mine would fit if she saw even one of those!

We had one of those once - didn't know what this yellow ball was so poked it...

and ran

Both my daughters hate insects of any kind (although my youngest loves to pick up worms and put them in the composter

) - we had great fun tonight trying to get a moth out of my 4 year olds bedroom

hoob · Post by **hoob** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:13 pm

Eldest daughter built like an elf - airy, light, gorgeous (ok I'm biased) and thinks the smallest fly is out to get her...

Youngest daughter built like rugby ball, behaves like rugby ball, bounces like rugby ball, but doesn't look like a rugby ball (fortunately).

Both gorgeous after their mother - for which I give thanks nightly.......

Vonny · Post by **Vonny** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:15 pm

hoob wrote:Eldest daughter built like an elf - airy, light, gorgeous (ok I'm biased) and thinks the smallest fly is out to get her...

Youngest daughter built like rugby ball, behaves like rugby ball, bounces like rugby ball, but doesn't look like a rugby ball (fortunately).

They sound like my daughters

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:15 pm

..... and it's Fathers Day in less than an hour, as I type !

Vonny · Post by **Vonny** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:22 pm

J.R. wrote:..... and it's Fathers Day in less than an hour, as I type !

I've got my husband exactly what he got for me from the girls for Mothers Day....... nothing