Tag: Spider

Posted in Allotment, nature

Here today, gone tomorrow

Posted on by BITM

How is it nearly July? The passage of time has certainly flown by, for me, but then the growing season is in full swing and has kept me busy.

In April, a few weeks of unusually warm weather for the time of year  ended with April showers. Since then there have been occasional periods of heavy rain, however it remained largely dry here in southern England. A couple of weeks ago (as well as this coming Monday) we had another very hot period of high temperatures. The weather remains warm, so colder mornings are refreshing. It was the sunniest spring on record and continues to be incredibly dry here in the south.

Early warm spring weather has meant that fruit picking this year has been very good. So far the strawberry, currants, gooseberry and raspberry harvests  have been great. There are plenty of apples and plums developing too.

The allotment is coming along, we had to hold out planting for a while due to the drought we had early spring. I took advantage of that to add  another wildlife area. The shed casts a shadow so I have been unsure what to do with it; now there is a dead hedge, stumpery, log pile and hedgehog house along with nettles and a few other plants to encourage insects, beetles and other invertebrates.

I have noticed a variety of insects this year. Lots of Brimstones (Gonepteryx rhamni) in spring have now been replaced by Commas (Polygonia c-album), Speckled woods (Pararge aegeria), Large whites (Pieris brassicae) and Peacock (Aglais io) butterflies.

Bees have been evident too; Ashy mining bees (Andrena cineraria) in particular. I saw a group of about 20 in one garden.

A buff tailed bee (Bombus terrestris) snoozing in a foxglove.

Juvenile ladybirds have also been evident, arriving soon after aphids show up, now becoming adults.


Mullein Moth (Cucullia verbasci) caterpillars were around one week in April and then disappeared in early June, presumably eaten by birds.

These vibrant caterpillars turn into a brown coloured moth.

Although the caterpillars had eaten a lot of the leaves, the plant survived and has begun to bloom now. It never ceases to fascinate me how the moths found the plant in the first place and how the birds found the caterpillars with no need for chemicals to control so-called pests. The adult Mullien moths are nocturnal, flying in April and May.

I have also learnt about another spider, the Cucumber spider (Araniella cucurbitina); named because of their vibrant green abdomens they are commonly found in the UK, especially in woodlands and hedgerows.

Larger than actual size. Males are about 3.5- 4mm while the larger females are between 4- 6mm.


In May, we met friends at Black park in Slough. It was wonderful to see the emergence of adult dragonflies from their nymph form, species unknown.

Posted in nature

Garden Treasures

Posted on by BITM

It feels like spiderweb season, the time when they become more prevalent, has arrived. I often get a face full of web when I accidentally walk into hidden ones as I work.

The spider’s web I come across most often is created by the European garden spider (Araneus diadematus). Also called the Diadem spider, Garden cross spider or Crowned orb weaver, due to the pattern on their abdomen and large circular webs they weave.

Males are 9mm in length, smaller than females (which grow to 15mm). Colouration can vary from light to dark brown and even burnt orange.

They are often found in gardens but also inhabit woodlands and meadows. The large orb webs (up to 40cms diameter) become more noticeable at this time of year in strong sunlight, due to the position of the sun, especially when glistening with dew in the mornings.

Those spiders which have survived summer will be mature adults now and start mating when autumn arrives. Males pluck the threads of the female’s web before he approaches, so he isn’t mistaken for food. However this tactic isn’t 100% successful as they can still become prey, even after mating. In late autumn a pregnant female will lay her eggs and spend every second protecting them until she eventually dies. Any adult spider still alive by November will succumb to cold weather.

The young spiderlings will survive winter inside a protective egg sac made of silk, to hatch in May the following year. Repeating the process of feeding on insects caught in webs (after being given a paralysing bite and wrapped in silk for later). They may not be the nation’s favourite garden helpers but they reduce pests and therefore should be treasured just like Ladybirds.

I also learnt a new plant last week. Standing out like a jewel amongst the other perennials was the beautiful Bog sage (Salvia uliginosa).

A Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) visiting some Bog sage.

As it’s common name suggests this plant grows in damp areas. The one I saw was planted in a herbaceous border that used to be a pond which never completely dries out.

Originally from South American waterways (between Brazil to Argentina) this tall hardy perennial also requires a sunny position to survive. The beautiful blue flowers, loved by bees, bloom between August and October so this plant is a wonderful addition to gardens for extending the pollinating season.