It's autumn - The big spiders are back.

[Primrose]

I don't know why it is but I never seem to see the big spiders and their webs until autumn. (Perhaps that's because in Spring they're only little spiders and have been growing all summer?). But some of their webs are magnificant and I wonder if anybody else is like me, carefully weaving their way amongst climbing beans and tomato plants to pick the crops without disturbing or damaging their web. I've just left one clump of tomatoes unpicked, at least for the time being, because there was no way I could harvest them without destroying the web and I couldn't bear to think of that poor little creature being up all night spinning his web and anticipating his breakfast, only to find some thoughtless human like me coming along and destroying everything in an instant.

[FelixLeiter]

For sure, spiders have spent all summer growing. But it is at this time of the year that they seek a mate, so they like to show off their wares in the form of a beautifully crafted web. It's also why they start appearing in the bath, behind the curtains, or crawling along the carpet at night while we're watching the telly. These, however, are mostly wolf spiders, attracted to the light while out on the pull. They are nearly always female.

[Westi]

Although I admire your thoughts Primrose they leave me cold
and I avoid them not out of respect for the web but true fear
factor - either way it is a win win for them from both of us.

Unfortunately at home the dogs enjoy eating them and they
have no respect at all for the toil of web making but it makes
it easier for me in the garden and the greenhouse.

Westi

[Colin_M]

Incredible aren't they!

As magnificent as the ones outside are, there are some real Shelobs of around 3 inches span which wander round our living room in the evening. You have to remember to keep your feet off the ground, just in case

[Primrose]

We have domestic "pet" spider called Jimmy who lives down the plughole in our bathroom because he's always there lurking when we want to have a bath. No matter how long it takes, he always has to be carefully rescued and tucked away safely in a quiet corner before we can run the water. But next morning he's back again. Quite a handsome creature actually.

[Elaine]

I love spiders, absolutely fascinating creatures. I especially love watching the huge Garden spiders (the ones with the cross on their abdomen). I noticed one in the garden this morning and the web was a foot across, with one strand of silk reaching 3' away, securing the web to a branch. Amazing structures.

I was lucky enough to witness the mating ritual of a pair of these spiders last autumn, with the much smaller male performing his "semaphore" leg waving and then eventually-very tentatively-caressing the female. Marvellous! He escaped afterwards too!
Cheers.

[macmac]

Primrose our "pet" is called Sid although some years on he's probably grandson of Sid,he lives behind the tv and comes out winter evenings
I sympathise Westi I love spiders but if they crawl over me yuk.But at this time of year I marvel at their webs and think of all the flies they catch

[glallotments]

I also like spiders and enjoy watching them although I draw the line at letting them ensnare bees or butterflies and usualy rescue these from their clutches.

As a child I behaved in the usual way when I saw a spider - squealed a lot and ran away. I think I was doing what i thought little girls were expected to do. As I grew up I learned about them and realised that they were fascinating creatures but I still gather them up using a cup and piece of card - other than a tiny one that is. I think the speed at which they travel puts me off actually holding them in my hand.

I did once hold the discarded skin of a taratula which jiggle about on my hand as I moved and looked 'alive' it was amazing the effect this had on people I was working with whi scattrered as I approached. Evil I know but fun.

Maybe when I grow up some more I will pick a real spider up without a cup and paper too

[Primrose]

I have been known to put a tiny fibre of raw meat in one of the cobwebs in our living room in the middle of winter because I was worried that in the absence of summer flies, one particular resident spider would starve. My husband looked at me open mouthed when he saw what I was doing. He has long since realised that being married to an individual who rescues worms from pavements to prevent them being trodden on, I'm beyond redemption (Strangely my 'peace & goodwill' attitude does not extend to wasps and slugs.)

[Elaine]

Hi Primrose. My husband will be relieved to know that I am not the only person who rescues stranded worms, bumble bees etc to prevent them being trod on!

Like yourself, I do not extend this courtesy to slugs and wasps. Or snails, houseflies, bluebottles and mozzies....those get dispatched asap!
Cheers.

[glallotments]

Wasps I treat as friends as long as they leave me alone but slugs and snails never when they are anywhere near my garden or plot.

Although when I was a teacher we did rear slugs and snails in a tank. It's fascintaing to watch the tiny creatures developing in the eggs and to watch the rippling movement up the side of a glass tank. They are very smelly and messy though. Unlike the froglets - they didn't end up taken home over the holidays and released into my garden!

My neighbours think I am weird too when I can be seem flat on my tummy pointing my camers at all manner of tiny creepy things that they can't see!

My sister who is also a softie fed her http://msgmedia.blogspot.com/2009/09/sh ... s.htmlenus flytrap on mince and rescued flies from its clutches. Maybe we can form a softie society

[Chantal]

I won't hurt spiders, but I'm a total arachnophobe and this time of year is a nightmare for me. One beast spins a web across my greenhouse door every single night and then waits for me to walk into it every morning. You think I'd learn it was there, but I'm half asleep and with the light at that time of day, simply can't see it. I then have to spend ages shaking my hair (curly) trying to make sure I'm not wearing the resident (whom I have never yet seen) as a designer accessory! This has been going on for weeks and my neighbours must have signed me off as a complete lunatic as every morning I walk in the greenhouse, yelp and leap around shaking my head for five minutes.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, i'm sure your neighbours are quite unphased by your antics by now.

So nice to see a post from you.

[donedigging]

I'm with Chantal on this one,

I go up to the greenhouse like Indiana Jones.. stick in hand to break their webs, can't stand the things. Sorry but I don't see their purpose?

[Elaine]

Hi Chantal. Maybe your neighbours will think you have taken up listening to Heavy Metal music in your greenhouse and are practising "Head banging"

Just a thought!
Cheers!