Spider update

13 September 2026

The wasp spider that I found in my garden last month has moved on – it disappeared for a week or so, then reappeared in a new web about 6 feet from the original one, but I haven’t seen it since, nor have I found any egg sacs. However, another spider appeared in the long grass a few days ago which was worth a photo.

This beauty is the largest garden spider (araneus diadematus) that I have ever seen, with a body between 1.5 and 2cm long, and really chubby. It was probably a female, which are much larger than the males, and likely full of eggs. It disappeared shortly after being photographed – I have read that spiders don’t always stay in the same web, moving on to a new one if it is damaged, or if there aren’t enough insects around. Or maybe if people keep pointing cameras at it!

We also have a couple of spider-related events coming up in our new Winter Programme, which will be out soon.

Sue Morton