Minsmere RSPB - Spiders

Even though my main focus was on the birds at the wonderful Minsmere RSPB reserve, I had time to look at what was going on in the grasses and on the ground.

 

Recently hatched miniature spiders in an amazing ball, just as the first few spiderlings are making their first steps of independence.

Unknown spider species with a weevil in its web



Close-up of the same unknown species (pity I didn't get the whole spider in the shot!).  I wonder what function the hairs on the legs have?



 

A Jumping Spider (I think?) with prey on a warm brick.

Spiderlings in a Bedfordshire Garden

A small cobweb covered in small moving bright yellow spots caught my attention on the last day of May in the garden. Closer examination showed the spots to be newly hatched spiders.

The web could only have been 2 inches across.  This shows about half of the brood.

Each one was less than half the size of an ant



I have no idea what species of spider it was, and I will keep a look out for them when they are bigger.

I suspect that the colour will change as they get larger, the yellow and black being a warning to predators when they are so small.