Wildlife September - November 2012

[Paul T]

I'm a bit like you Mark..... not into spiders at all.  Huntsman spiders are the worst, because they're big and furry and FAST!!  They're up your arm in a millisecond if you're not careful. 

[Stephenb]

For Mark: It's snowing here in Trondheim today and there's a lonely Swift still flying around!

[scatigaz]

It would certainly be worth checking it for Pallid Swift at this time of year.

[mark smyth]

For Mark: It's snowing here in Trondheim today and there's a lonely Swift still flying around!

Wow that's extremely late. Is it a Common swift?

[fredg]

He's a wus!

I second that

It's only a spider 

Last week mrsg and I were both assisting one to clear cobwebs from its legs , it was that size or bigger.

Now I could have understood it if it was the spider screaming.

[Paul T]

Sigh!  It's the one thing about phobias.... if you don't have any, you can't understand those who do.

I regard myself as a wus too I might add.    I don't like the spiders much, and at times I'll run the other way, but thankfully it isn't TOO bad a phobia.  Thankfully.

So what happened to the spider, Mark?  Did it survive.  Depending on the mood I'm in at the time I'll either try to catch the huntsman and put it outside, or else I'll drown it with a can of bug spray.  I do use the term drown deliberately there.... it usually end up looking like it's been caught in a very bad snowstorm by the end of it.    Phobias are not fun! (particularly not for the spider I guess!  )

Generally otherwise I try to harm nothing.  I make the exception for snails and slugs, and aphids etc.

[Anthony Darby]

I used to keep spiders of the big and hairy variety. The bigger the better. I've been bitten by three. When the fang puncture holes are two centimetres apart you'll know what I mean by big! Oh, and it hurts! Went hunting for baboon spiders in Kenya one day. That was fun!

[JohnnyD]

Talking of spiders - can anyone tell me what this is?
It is high up on our pvc fron door!
The wasp? or bee? is clearly entangled in the web and may be feed for the eventual emergence of progeny.
Any ideas?
JohnnyD

[Stephenb]

Wow that's extremely late. Is it a Common swift?

It seems to be a common swift. Some experienced birders have been to see it, hoping I guess it was a pallid. Here's a picture:

[Stephenb]

Interestingly the latest ever record of young in the nest was also from this year to the south west of here - young were found in a nest as late as 24th September.

And the latest record of swifts in Norway was a Pallid Swift on 30th October one year.

[mark smyth]

Jonny it's a flightless female moth laying eggs as soon as she emerged from a cocoon. Anthony can tell you more.

I'm only scared oh house spiders and not too keen on fat heavily with eggs garden spiders

[mark smyth]

Stephen thanks for posting the photo.

[Anthony Darby]

Jonny it's a flightless female moth laying eggs as soon as she emerged from a cocoon. Anthony can tell you more.

Looks like a Vapourer, (Orgyia antiqua)? I've always wanted to find a female moth.

[Paul T]

Talking of spiders - can anyone tell me what this is?
It is high up on our pvc fron door!
The wasp? or bee? is clearly entangled in the web and may be feed for the eventual emergence of progeny.
Any ideas?
JohnnyD

Good grief!!    With that number of eggs I'd be worrying about the impending invasion.    Glad to know it is a flightless moth, and therefore probably a "good guy".  Whew!! 

[JohnnyD]

Thanks Guys.
We did have a lot of vapourer caterpillars so no surprise really.
J.