There are saltmarshes along the Northfolk coastline south of Wells-next-the-Sea and the most conspicuous plant on the upper saltmarsh is shrubby sea-blite Suaeda vera, a bushy evergreen that's also a favourite haunt of this spider Agelena labyrinthica. Her outer platform web leads to a tubular lair....
... where the owner lurks, sometimes coming out to sunbathe and always ready to rush out and grab anything that her web has snared .....
... or rush back in if she's disturbed by a clumsy photographer, ready to defend her egg sac or hatched young, which are concealed in an inner labyrith of tunnels.
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I've seen lots of these webs while I've been out Phil; but never the resident. Well caught.
ReplyDeleteLove the second photo of the spider in its lair.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to dive for cover at the slightest disturbance... it's difficult to get close without disturbing them..
ReplyDeleteHi John, it seems to fit the tube perfectly...
ReplyDeleteThe second shot is marvellous.
ReplyDeleteHi Adrian, it's probably the view that its prey see, when they've realised they've taken a wrong turn..
ReplyDelete