trndrws's Favorites

First noticed female building web in September/October (10/20).
Mated with a male around 2 months ago not long after moulting (11/20).
Egg nest/sac built in December (12/20).

Spiderlings show signs of hatching inside nest early January, with mother behaving very protectively (1/21).

Spiderlings emerge 23/1/21 - mother teaching young how to catch prey with a leftover fly wing with web plucking and demonstration (very maternal behaviour).

New egg nest/sac laid 24/1/21 - spiderlings still in web (some already dispersing and venturing further out), most others herded in toward their ex-egg-nest by mother (possibly to eat leftover silk?).

Mother killed by a White Tail (Lampona) 27/1/21 - spiderlings spared, however new egg sac was breached. Spiderlings continue to thrive without Mother - noticeable size differences (male/female) 2/21, and appear to be more active within the web after the room fills with steam (shower). Also appear to be eating small bugs that land in web, but not showing any predatory/hunting behaviours as yet.

All moulting (noticed 5/2/21) and beginning to scatter within the web/to the outer edges (not the side closer to a nearby Daddy Long Legs (Pholcus)).

And so begins the mass exodus! (7-8/2/21) - most ballooning to nearby crevices (and towels). Some building little nests in the eaves nearby their home-web; not sure if this is a male/female behavioural distinction, or merely preference (TBC). Good luck, little ones!