spider eggs?

[tameblackbirds]

could this spider be protecting these eggs? Anyone know or are they unrelated? Both found under my dustpan that was in the garden,

[Geoff F]

Everybody seems to be reluctant to commit themselves here!

I have had a couple of looks at that spider and kept hoping someone else would make the first move. So I might as well start things off.

While I am unsure from that angle it would appear to be somewhat similar to a rather pale female Steatoda bipunctata and the habitat sounds OK if you live in the south, or a milder area slightly further north.

I'm not sure about the eggs though. A few species do protect their eggs and young in various ways, like Pisaura mirabilis or the Lycosidae family. But they are summer breeders.

It is possible, however, that the spider and eggs are of the same species although she isn't actually 'guarding' the eggs.

Come on all you experts - prove me totally wrong! http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...ilies/wink.gif

[No.9 Spider]

A size for the spider would be useful, though I'm inclined to think that the spider is a sub-adult male looking at the palps and therefore wouldn't be associated with the eggs. I may be wrong, though a sharper photo may help.



No.9 Spider