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European garden spider (newly hatched spiderlings)

Araneus diadematus

Description:

Recently hatched spiderlings of Araneus diadematus on a web. The baby spiders hang out in a tight ball (shown) unless disturbed, when they rapidly disperse along silk lines. After the danger has passed, they return to the ball.

Habitat:

Suburban garden

Notes:

I found 5 of these "balls" in the garden this morning!

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21 Comments

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

Thank you Lauren & Jemma!

LaurenZarate
LaurenZarate 10 years ago

Beautiful babies!

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Congratulations on the birth of these spiderlings.
Happy Birthday to all the millions of newly born orb weavers.Keep us informed on how they disperse etc.!!
I am observing two spiderlings on the web. They have already become skilled hunters, Seem to be growing slowly though. I never saw their siblings.
Too many phoebes in my garden......

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

Thanks Harsha!

Harsha Singh
Harsha Singh 10 years ago

Wow! So many! Lucky to have seen them Karen. :)

Adarsha B S
Adarsha B S 10 years ago

U seen it from eyes, i m just seeing the pic..you are right Karen :)

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

The whole ball is only about half an inch across Adarsha & looks like a seed head at first glance.

Adarsha B S
Adarsha B S 10 years ago

At once, it looked like beehive :)

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

Thanks Alice!

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 10 years ago

Wonderful!

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

Thanks Dez!

Smith Zoo
Smith Zoo 10 years ago

Wow wow wow! I love this!

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

I squealed with delight each time I found one of these balls this morning Aaron! The other 4 had all started to disperse - just one brave little guy had begun to venture away from this one!

Debbie Stewart
Debbie Stewart 10 years ago

Haha...men and their 'tidy' gardens ;-)

Aaron_G
Aaron_G 10 years ago

I very nearly squealed with delight upon seeing this spotting! :-D

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

My husband recently enquired why there was an enormous "weed" in the middle of the flower bed - it was a 5' tall thistle of some kind. I told him, that it was a native wildflower & that the butterflies loved it - he didn't look too convinced but it remained until it finally blew over!

Debbie Stewart
Debbie Stewart 10 years ago

I tried to let mine grow a bit wilder and left everything in for the bees and butterflies etc then my Dad came round round whilst I was at work and thought he would 'help me out' by tidying up my flower bed and taking out all the 'weeds' :-(

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

My parent's garden is a little unkempt & overgrown - a perfect environment for spiders Debbie!

Debbie Stewart
Debbie Stewart 10 years ago

Great photo Karen, must be a great garden to have 5 of them in!

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

Thanks Mauna! There are garden spiders of all sizes everywhere I look in my parents' garden - it's awesome to see so many!

mauna Kunzah
mauna Kunzah 10 years ago

Great spotting, Karen!

KarenL
Spotted by
KarenL

London Borough of Bromley, England, United Kingdom

Spotted on Jul 2, 2013
Submitted on Jul 2, 2013

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