Cyn's Nature Notes: Green Orb Weaver Spider?

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Green Orb Weaver Spider?

One evening, a few days ago I noticed a pretty spider on the side of the bathroom window, she had a pale green abdomen and the head, thorax and legs looked a beige colour. I hesitated to put her out as opening a window would allow mosquitoes in, so I left her there.

Next morning she was still there and beside her was a long packet of eggs, again I left her. The following day she was still in place by her eggs. Next morning although she was still by her eggs, she seemed very weak and when I gently blew on her (thinking she was dead) she hardly moved, however inside the egg sac I noticed a lot of movement. How could I move her or her egg sac now without harming any of them, so I decided once more to leave them in situ. Next morning the situation looked the same except on closer inspection I realised the mother was dead, but there was much life within the egg sac.

This morning I went to check on them and found the egg sac empty and the dead mother gone. There was no sign of her or the spiderlings on the windowsill, wall or floor. Did they eat their mother?

Another interesting fact is that no web was made, the egg sac was in the angled edge of the window where it met the wall.

I am not even certain that this spider was a green orb weaver spider, but would be interested to have comments from anyone who is familiar with this spider.

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.