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Wasp Spider: |
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calumma Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2003 No. of posts: 351  View other posts by calumma |
Posted: 25 Aug 2003 The recent KRAG jolly was good fun and included setting up a new adder survey, along with visits to several of my study sites. At one site we were very lucky to find several specimens of the 'wasp' spider (Argiope bruennichi). Quite a spectacular beast and only a recent addition to the British fauna.  Lee Brady Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Gemma Fairchild Krag Committee Joined: 14 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 193 View other posts by Gemma Fairchild |
Posted: 25 Aug 2003 Now where have I seen those before?  ----RAUK e-Forum---- 
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Martin Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 87 View other posts by Martin |
Posted: 25 Aug 2003 Hi Lee, thanks for the photo, they're amazing aren't they! I'm sure that here in my area of south Hampshire I'm seeing a westwards spread of this spider. Around 6 years ago there was only one field locally that they were found in, despite searches for them elsewhere. This year we've found numbers of them in another 2 fields about 4 and 5 miles away where there were none in previous years. As a quick aside I'm seeing more humming bird hawk moths here as the years go on, 10 years ago very rarely seen here. 5 years ago I saw 2 in that year. This year I've already seen 2 so far with a few friends seeing them out and about as well. (Despite this being my least active year for years!) I wonder what else we'll see more of in time?? Martin. |
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Gemma Fairchild Krag Committee Joined: 14 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 193 View other posts by Gemma Fairchild |
Posted: 25 Aug 2003 I couldn't see a good one of these yesterday, caused by a Gall wasp Diplolepis rosae and known as a Robin's pin cushion, found on wild roses 
Dozens of them on the site with the funny spiders (ok so I didn't know what they were) 
Was a lot of fun Lee, certainly a break from lonely hours in the field. ----RAUK e-Forum----
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 26 Aug 2003 Argiope does seem to be very common in some years and be quite widespread in the Poole basin and Avon valley whereas in other years it seems quite uncommon. It was first recorded near Rye in 1922. P.Merrett (1979) did plot the colonies and their size in Dorset for 1940-78 if anyone is interested in this species. Hummingbird Hawkmoths also vary in numbers that migrate here each year and have done so for many years one in my garden at the weekend first one seen out there for about 12 years but I am not around a lot standing by the flowers. Also a Convulvulus Hawkmoth the weekend before. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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j gaughan Senior Member Joined: 04 May 2003 No. of posts: 57 View other posts by j gaughan |
Posted: 26 Aug 2003 i remember you asking me david, a few years ago if 'Argiope' had arrived in the weald, but i havn't found it yet on our 30-odd heathland sites in surrey, NE hants & W sussex _and i'm looking out for it; what i have found is more webs of 'Attypus affinis' the purse-web spider, under tin and logs; and the last two years have shown an increase in the green tiger beetle (Cicendela campestris) and sand wasp spp. along the 'kilometers of bare sand' we create & manage for sand lizards nearer to home, nicola dragged me out of bed on june 22nd to catch a glimpse of a hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) feeding on the high privet in our frontgarden in SE london; and up the road, her parents had the almost unbelivable pleasure of 8 poplar hawk moths (Laothoe populi) fly in through their open french-doors at c 3.00 am on august 9th _they have an impressive row of tall, mature black poplar trees out the back john |
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Herpetologic Member Joined: 02 Sep 2003 No. of posts: 35  View other posts by Herpetologic |
Posted: 02 Sep 2003
Yep i have found the Wasp spidr along the M27 in Hampshire and around the Langdon hills in Essex. I have found some individual spiders had positioned their web above the reptile refugia i had put out along a stretch of motorway (M27). i felt that the spiders were utilising the reptile refugia as many grass hoppers lay out int he sun on the rfugia perhaps the spider was hoping that the grass hoppers would jump into the waiting web?
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Gemma Fairchild Krag Committee Joined: 14 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 193 View other posts by Gemma Fairchild |
Posted: 03 Sep 2003 Could be something in that, caught this one this morning busy building a web, and noticed a few other species have had the same idea too after you mentioned it. The tins attract dragonflies mostly hawkers as well as crickets at this site and there are plenty cocooned in the webs over the tins.  ----RAUK e-Forum----
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Skywalker Member Joined: 11 Oct 2003 No. of posts: 6  View other posts by Skywalker |
Posted: 11 Oct 2003 Argiope is common accross the Inner Thames Marshes at Dartford, Crayford, Erith, Rainham, Wennington and Aveley (the RSPB's Rainham reserve) and I'm told elswhere on the grazing marshes in the Thames Estuary. Simon (KRAG) |
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Herpetologic Member Joined: 02 Sep 2003 No. of posts: 35 View other posts by Herpetologic |
Posted: 11 Oct 2003 Yes the Species is quite widespread over the Thames Corridor. I have found specimens in Averly (in pubs car park), also it exists in Basildon at Langdon Hills NR and in Willow Park where local people have it in their gardens!!! Records of this spider can be sent to Peter Harvey, I think he is one of the main recorders for spiders in the Spider Recording Scheme, see this link http://www.essexfieldclub.org.uk/argiopespread.htm If you are carrying out surveys (reptile) on Motorway Verges then pleaselook out for this species. I have found them on the M27 in Hampshire. The spread of this species is possibly due to transport (cars and lorries) being piggy backed by the spider. It is a recent addition to the UK Fauna is it an 'Alien' species? Regards
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Morpheus Senior Member Joined: 30 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 54  View other posts by Morpheus |
Posted: 07 May 2006 Are they venamous? I found loads at a holiday camp in poole in dorset on a thorny yellow bush. arent thier other name orb weavers? Gloucestershire`s first exotic pet show! http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/general-herp-chat/320967-glou cestershire-reptile-show-2010-a.html |
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-LAF Senior Member Joined: 03 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 317 View other posts by -LAF |
Posted: 08 May 2006 Yes, they are technically venomous, all true spider are. But they're harmless to people. They're quite a big spider, so a large one may be able to nip and break the skin, but nothing's going to drop of if it does. Lee. Lee Fairclough |
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Morpheus Senior Member Joined: 30 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 54 View other posts by Morpheus |
Posted: 08 May 2006 I knew they are all venamous but i was just worried if one bit me but thanks for replying Gloucestershire`s first exotic pet show! http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/general-herp-chat/320967-glou cestershire-reptile-show-2010-a.html |
- Wasp Spider |
