Spider bound by web

[wilderness]

Hi all,

I took these picture of a spider last Summer, and I am just wondering if:

a) anyone know why it is in this condition?

b) what type of spider it is?

The spider was bound by web or some other material, and was hanging from its own web by a thread. Quite strange!

I have always wondered why.... so if anyone knows the reasons behind it, please let me know!

[Dogghound]

Its shedding its skin.

Can you get a photo of it from above? looks like Nuctenea umbratica from this angle.

[PMG]

Fascinating! Its about to pull its legs out of the old skin isn't it? Just the way I peel my thermal jumper off at night and all the static makes it stick to me!

[wilderness]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its shedding its skin.

Can you get a photo of it from above? looks like Nuctenea umbratica from this angle.

Unfortunately I took it last Summer!

And shedding its skin... wow! Never even thought of that! Why are its legs bound? Presuming it must haver done that itself?

Thanks.

[wilderness]

Originally Posted by PMG

Fascinating! Its about to pull its legs out of the old skin isn't it? Just the way I peel my thermal jumper off at night and all the static makes it stick to me!

Thanks for the reply. I never even considered the fact that it was shedding its skin.... I thought it was some sort of macabre spider murder by another insect!

[PMG]

Weeelllll ......... logic tells me that this spider hasn't made a mistake and bound itself inextricably! I'm guessing but ....... would it be easier to pull your legs out - either one at a time or all together if the 'tubes' you're pulling from are all held loosely together - rather than fiddle and spin about trying to get one out at a time when it isn't anchored ........ Yes? No?!! Maybe!!

[wilderness]

Originally Posted by PMG

Weeelllll ......... logic tells me that this spider hasn't made a mistake and bound itself inextricably! I'm guessing but ....... would it be easier to pull your legs out - either one at a time or all together if the 'tubes' you're pulling from are all held loosely together - rather than fiddle and spin about trying to get one out at a time when it isn't anchored ........ Yes? No?!! Maybe!!

Indeed!

I would have absolutely loved to see it doing its "binding of the legs" thang. Totally fascinating.

I'm petrified of spiders, but I think they are one of the most interesting creatures in existence.

[Meta menardi]

The flattened body and the Primrose coloured rim to the body makes me sure that it is Nuctenae umbratica. They are normally very shy of light and I used to go out into the garden at night with a torch to watch them . Very often they could only really be watched with either a red or a very dim light, or by getting them between you and the lightest bit og the sky. Since then I have let the garden grow a little wilder with more ivy and so on, I think the abundant wrens get them now!

I agree that it is shedding it's skin, that is a very typical way to hang when they are doing it. Ecdysis is not always successful...

Just wanted to add, very nice series of shots.

[wilderness]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

The flattened body and the Primrose coloured rim to the body makes me sure that it is Nuctenae umbratica. They are normally very shy of light and I used to go out into the garden at night with a torch to watch them . Very often they could only really be watched with either a red or a very dim light, or by getting them between you and the lightest bit og the sky. Since then I have let the garden grow a little wilder with more ivy and so on, I think the abundant wrens get them now!

I must admit, I haven't seen a spider like it before. I thought it might be some sort of "orb weaver" spider. Thanks for the info

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

I agree that it is shedding it's skin, that is a very typical way to hang when they are doing it. Ecdysis is not always successful...

I don't think this one survived it, but I could be wrong...

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Just wanted to add, very nice series of shots.

Thank you very much. These are pretty shoddy macros for me, would have liked more detail

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by wilderness

I thought it might be some sort of "orb weaver" spider.

I don't think this one survived it, but I could be wrong...

These are pretty shoddy macros for me, would have liked more detail

It is an orb web weaver, the web is often very large and the cells in the web can be not the normal rhomboid, but have the corners trimmed off. That doesn't sound very coherent, but I will try to find some photos.

I think that she did survive, some of the photos show the spider with a line from the rear spinnerets and all the legs clear from the exuvia, they have to have a pause after this.

Don't do yourself down with the pics, you have to look to see and to take the time to get a set like that, I would love to have seen that.