Garden Spider, Balbirnie Park, nr Glenrothes

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This very plump Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) is a member of the orb weaving group of spiders. It is very easily distinguished by the ‘cross’ markings on its back.

The next bit about them (below the photo), is not for the squeamish!! 🙂

Garden spider (Araneus diadematus)

Garden spider (Araneus diadematus)

The webs of the Garden Spider are built by the larger female. Once built, she hangs upside down in the centre of the web, with one leg claw hooked to a signal web thread line. This line detects any vibrations on the rest of the web, and thus if any unfortunate prey has been ensnared, she instantly knows. She will dart out and quickly bite the victim, injecting a paralysing venom, hang back for a few minutes to allow it to take affect (in case the victim is capable of stinging the Garden Spider), and then wrap the prey up in silk for consumption later. A particularly horrible thing about this process, is that the venom also contains enzymes, that cause the insides of the prey to liquefy, allowing the Garden Spider to easily digest it at a slightly later time 😦

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27 thoughts on “Garden Spider, Balbirnie Park, nr Glenrothes”

  4. Superb photo, Andy…such detail. I love spiders but one of my daughters has a real phobia about them. I’m not sure I’d particularly like a tarantula, mind you. They’re just that little bit too big. 🙂

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      • That is so often the problem, they so often end up in corners or parts of the ceiling that you can’t reach. Most of the time I use a cup for ease, but I’ll happily catch them with my hands if I’m sure I won’t crush them. But I can understand why lots of people don’t like house spiders, their colour doesn’t do them any favours in that respect.

        Liked by 1 person

      • No, blacks and browns aren’t too appealing. I use a cup, for the same reason – it’s so easy to damage the spiders. I have managed to catch some with my hands, though. As you say, they know how to get out of reach, too – and very speedily. 🙂

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