Wasp Spider

[Wild-Woman]

Just came back from a short walk in a local country park. I was pleased to see my first Wasp Spider of 2008. It was perfectly placed for the many Roesel's that were stridulating near it.
Their webs are so easy to distinguish with it's vertical zig-zag stabilimentum.
I think they are a great addition to British fauna personally.


Not the best of shots but the zig-zag is well defined. This one was very slim compared with what she will become when the eggs fatten her up.

[Venger]

Looks like she needs a meal a few grasshoppers would suit her well.

[aeshna5]

They are starting to show now. Saw my first last Saturday at Runnymede + Tuesday evening while doing some plant surveying at London Wetland Centre we found several close to each other.

[mrs fish]

Are there certain areas they can be found ?

Good pic

[Venger]

They'll be a bit more spread out than the map below shows, I'm sure they've expanded northwards since this map was created.

Ariope bruennichi distribution

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Are there certain areas they can be found ?

Good pic

Generally in grassland that's uncut and has a very good supply of grasshoppers and crickets. I'm not sure how far up the country they are but they're definitely making their way north and west. Some folk on the south coast get them in their gardens and our reserve had one right by the office door!

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Are there certain areas they can be found ?

Good pic

I don't know how widespread they are in Suffolk (or if they are even there yet) but they feed on grasshoppers/bush-crickets, so their webs are usually fairly close to ground amongst grasses/wild flowers. They have been in London area for just a few years, but are now widespread in suitable habitat, having been moving north from the south coast for over a decade now.

[mrs fish]

Thanks for that

I will have to keep a look out in the long grass even though I have just read about them biting !!

Exotic wasp spider that bites swarming across England | Mail Online

I know most spiders bite but are harmful .

[Wild-Woman]

Treat them with respect, admire their beauty, they're no problem. They're actually quite co-operative when taking a shot. They don't tend to dash off like some spiders. First one I ever saw had me spell-bound for ages. Hope you see one soon Teresa.

[No.9 Spider]

Quote: "...But while they can bite, the creatures are not poisonous...."

Don't you just love the press!

Of course they mean venemous, which they are!



No.9 Spider