Name that BEAST (Just for fun)

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:D So far you are all wrong. That beast is called FRED I have met him and he is a savage little creature. Rocks your hammock at night and then runs so you think nothing is there and then creeps around the camp just outside of your line of sight putting the creepers up you.:D :ban:

Greg
 
Well, we had some good shots at it, but it gives me great pleasure to say you all got it wrong :P


So..... the answer is a WASP SPIDER. They have moved in on my patch this year, and as our climate changes they become more common. Quite a large spider that sits lurking in its web within the tall grasses. Very pretty IMO.

waspspider600.jpg


Thanks for looking

Kris
 
Ooh nice one, never seen one before..Got any info on them Kris..?

I know a little, its thought that they were introduced to this country from continental Europe.

The females have a body size of 10-15mm although they often look bigger, the males are much small, around 5mm.

They build an orb web with a vertical zigzag pattern of silk in the middle, this is what I first noticed. They also seem to be in long grass so if its cut on a regula basis they don't hang around.

They are pretty much only found down south (mainly east coast) but I hear they are moving north slowly.

I saw about 15 this year.

Kris
 
Hi Jon,

Its a case of getting your eye in with these little chaps as they always face the wrong way, so most us would just walk past without noticing them. The key is too look for the zigzag in the web!

Kris
 

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