Spider's Globe. Nursery Web Spider, Pisaura mirabilis, Ballastplaatbos, Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer, Groningen, The Netherlands
Well, cold rain much of the weekend. But it seems spiders thrive in it. The water makes their webs stickier and thus more insects can be trapped. I don't know whether that holds for Nursery Webs. This Momma Pisaura - no Shelob she! - is standing guard over her Nursery, a well-constructed and delicate Global Nest. It's really worthwhile getting down on your knees to marvel over the intricacies of such architecture. There was already some movement at the centre of the nest so I think perhaps by now, a few days later, both mother and her off-spring are out constructing captivating webs in the present wetness to ensnare delicious morsels of insect food.
PS Do let me know if my identification is wrong. I'm not entirely sure... Thanks.
Spider's Globe. Nursery Web Spider, Pisaura mirabilis, Ballastplaatbos, Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer, Groningen, The Netherlands
Well, cold rain much of the weekend. But it seems spiders thrive in it. The water makes their webs stickier and thus more insects can be trapped. I don't know whether that holds for Nursery Webs. This Momma Pisaura - no Shelob she! - is standing guard over her Nursery, a well-constructed and delicate Global Nest. It's really worthwhile getting down on your knees to marvel over the intricacies of such architecture. There was already some movement at the centre of the nest so I think perhaps by now, a few days later, both mother and her off-spring are out constructing captivating webs in the present wetness to ensnare delicious morsels of insect food.
PS Do let me know if my identification is wrong. I'm not entirely sure... Thanks.