Spider guarding sheet web?

Lesinlondon · #1 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 05:18 PM

I came across this spider today. First I thought it was a Wolf spider, but it seemed to be guarding the sheet web, where somewhere I assumed was it's eggs? Anyway, it seemed well rooted to the spot and wasn't frightened off by my fumbling around. It's def not a nursery web spider, is it? Thanks, Les.

wildherbalian85 · #2 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 05:57 PM

Lovely pictures with stuning detail

.... it is though a shame about the angles because from these angles its not so easy to identify. I would guess at a wolf spider.

John_M · #3 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 06:21 PM

It's a Nursery Web spider, Pisaura mirabilis. The web will be the nursery tent, containing either the egg sac or the newly hatched young. They are quite defensive of the nursery.

Lesinlondon · #4 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 10:23 PM

Thanks wildherbalian85 and John! I was leaning towards Pisaura mirabilis, that stripe and web being hints, but all my others of this species from the same area have been rather plain - shades of grey or brown. First one I have seen with these markings.

Pisaura mirabilis not very numerous this year for me, my local 'managed' eco park have 'managed' to destroy most of the nettles areas (where they were very numerous previous years), by dumping masses of earth on them.