Spider’s Jewels

Heading from summer to autumn, this is the first blog from the autumn and dates from 28 September 2013.

After a long hot summer I knew that autumn had finally arrived when the morning’s dew remained captured on the delicate filaments of the Spider webs well into the following morning, rather than disappearing at first light. Overnight the Spiders had been working hard in our hedge, to make the top surface a bejewelled carpet of webs, scattered like a fine gossamer blanket that had been snagged by the upright shoots of the hedge when blown in the wind.

Spider Webs – 28 September 2013 (Copyright Carol Jones)

In the morning sunlight the fine threads were covered with an amazing array of tiny droplets of dew, it was as though someone had been out all night threading tiny iridescent beads onto the threads. In the morning sunshine each of these beads then reflected the sunlight in all directions, producing an array of tiny rainbows. A temporary but very beautiful effect that didn’t last long, for even this late in the year the morning dew does not last forever and the strength of the autumn sun soon evaporated them.

A Spider’s Web Covered in Iridescent Beads – 28 September 2013 (Copyright Carol Jones)

Incy Wincy Spider Grows Up!

While the first storm of autumn, blows and blusters through the surrounding trees, its time to go hunting wildlife, closer to home, and somewhat more sheltered and drier than outside! In an old house, in autumn, it is never a difficult task to find the odd creature hiding away in the more remote corners of the place or even making more blatant bids to move in, especially the Spider, which will take up residence anywhere it seems think is available. Today the hunt led to the disused entrance, which I have to say is the fond haunt of the Spider, being cool and relatively undisturbed. In this case today’s is a very very large one – a Giant House Spider (Tegenaria duellica) to be precise.

Giant House Spider – 25 September 2012 (Copyright Carol Jones)

Have to say I’m quite fond of these creatures, with their long gangly legs that are covered in the most amazing hairs, each hair being at least 5mm long (long when the creature is just a few inches across, and this includes their legs) and each angled out from the leg at 45^o. Accompanied by their mottled brown bodies, the patterns of which seem to be unique to the individual and pair of glistening jet black eyes, like a pair of polished coals. This one at least is safe, living with the recycling and bothering no one, happily constructing its almost orb like webs in the corners.

Pair of Giant House Spiders – 12 September 2012 (Copyright Carol Jones)