The kids and I took a bike ride/dog walk last Sunday (as is typical) and found a picturesque cut through with beautiful long grass. It was a sunny day and the place looked magical.
As we explored the long grass, in pursuit of crickets, my eldest son happened across a stunning spider species, which we have never encountered before. A quick google revealed it to be a Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi). This is one of the orb web builders and they have stunning yellow markings.
The females are huge compared to males. The body length can reach nearly 2cm in the former and only 0.5cm in the latter. The boys are also brown in colour - nowhere near as striking. Mating is a dangerous game for the little fellows and they often hang around the edge of webs waiting for a female to complete their final moult. At this point - and for a very short period - her jaws will be softer and he has an improved chance of survival. Many males still get consumed, however.
It is believed this species was introduced into the UK from the continent as far back as 1920. They were surviving well in the far south and have steadily spread north , due to warmer winters. They like long grass and that is exactly where we found ours.
Anyway it is a first for us and proof that many stunning species are waiting to be discovered on our own doorsteps.
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