Spiders Meeting Circle!?

[wizzo]

Dap, Opilones often form a circle prior to mass mating. As far as I am aware, these are the only 'animals that actually take part in such a 'ritual'. It is quite a rare spectacle, so count yourself lucky. The BBC's wildlife unit in Bristol have tried to capture this on film many times with little or no success. Did you manage to film it, or photograph the event? Well done for a great spot though mate

[posie]

Originally Posted by Jason Claxton

Whatever!

Originally Posted by wizzo

Dap, Opilones often form a circle prior to mass mating. As far as I am aware, these are the only 'animals that actually take part in such a 'ritual'. It is quite a rare spectacle, so count yourself lucky. The BBC's wildlife unit in Bristol have tried to capture this on film many times with little or no success. Did you manage to film it, or photograph the event? Well done for a great spot though mate

Obviously Wizzo, the wild parties that we have in the south haven't reached Bristol yet. HeHe

[wizzo]

Posie - lol! I thought...."well everyone else is having a giggle", may as well join in

[wizzo]

Ah - hmmmm, sorrry to the moderators. I know this is supposed to be a serious forum

[wizzo]

Ah - hmmmm, sorrry to the moderators. I know this is supposed to be a serious forum

[Dap]

Considering this was over a year ago and was dark, only lit by orange street light, I could not be certain if they were opiliones or not. However after googling several images it does not seem to fit. Opiliones appear to be long, thin and spindly, where as the spiders we saw were definitely chunky, approx 2 inches long including legs and very similar to the horrible house spiders. The reason I am sure of this is because I absolutely HATE house spiders and their distinctive shape always sticks in my mind. They make my skin crawl ! It is frustrating because I cannot be certain..

It was my friend and brother that actually spotted them first and came back home insisting we went out to see as it freaked them out a bit! We went down about 5min later and they were still there, perfectly still and forming a circle. Very odd indeed.

I have no photos I'm afraid. Really should have taken some I suppose I have found a google image of a spider that looks as similar as I can find to the one we saw.

http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/nat...cs/mhsspid.jpg

[No.9 Spider]

It may be, that the 'spiders', being close to the ground and with the lighting above, took on a 'chunkier' profile due to the shadow they would cast in close proximity to their bodies?




No.9 Spider

[dickybird]

apologies if im spoiling the fun by being serious but many years ago i witnessed something similar but involving cockroaches.

there were two cockroaches almost facing each other and surrounding them in a circle were lots more. they were in an outbuilding at my grans and were not put off by the door being opened on them---indeed they only scarpered when my dad stamped his foot close to them.

dickybird