Spiders Galore

I wasn't sure weather to put this in Pests because they probably have their good and bad points, so I've chosen here. This is what I found in my Rosemary ...



Is it called a coccoon? It's about 8cm long. I've never seen one before.

 

Hi LOL,i think your very brave to get close enough to take that pic!Living in such a warm country,i suppose you`ve gotten used to seeing spiders and such,but if i saw that in my garden i`d run as fast is i could to the nearest Estate Agent. :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

It's really odd, looks like cotton wool! :eek: Creepy crawlies don't bother me ... but I won't touch a slug or worm, horrors! squidgy things! :eek: snails without houses :eek: !

 

Is it a big hairy one ?

 

I haven't looked THAT closely .... :eek: I took it off yesterday and sat it on the table outside on a leaf (as one would) and it disappeared before our visitors came. Think t'other half threw it away; must ask. :confused:

 

Do you get scary spiders in portugal ?

 

I've seen a big fat hairy one or two ... in the house!! Get t'other half to remove them ... so em caso, if you know what I mean? :eek:

Like snakes, I don't think there are any venomous or man/woman-eating species here, except of the opposite species!

 

Hi LoL saw my first mantis in Cyprus last week, made my day (inhouse advisor thinks i'm a sad person) little things please.... etc. :rolleyes:

 

Ooh, Strongy ... as we were closing the gates tonight when our friends left, there was a nice one on one of the fleur de lis thingies on the top of the gate! Didn't have camera to hand unfortunately! :( Didn't realise you hadn't seen one before ... nice critters and make lovely sounds!

 

L of L fleur de lis translated from french means flower of the lily is this what you saw or is it a six legged critter playing an instrument (only joking)

 

Found this elegant little fellow in S.E. Wales over the weekend. He's about 4 or 5 cm from tip to tip of the legs, so really quite small. Anyone got any ideas what kind of spider he is?

 

LOL ....we get bit hairy spiders with KNEES !!! :eek: and beautiful HUGE Scarab beetles.....we also have at the moment a very large spiders web being dutifully woven by a large yellow and black striped spider (Argiope australis)..praying mantis are regular visitors...adders are also frequent visitors through the vines (although I know not insects ) together with the geckos that continually bask on the house walls and visit the water features for a quick dip ....it's a haven for natures own. M-L


Some can be quite scary look at the effect they have on me !!! :D

[ 31. August 2006, 12:47 PM: Message edited by: Mona Lisa ]

 

Hi Jazid looks like a harvest-men spider to me although its an arachnid (of the order of opiliones) its not a true spider it has only one body segment and doesn't have a web it hunts its prey by running it down, usually common late summer early autumn

 

:eek: M-L, think you better have one of those glasses of wine and calm down!

I wonder if it's the scarab beetles we have. Have a picture of one somewhere, huge black body with eyebrows like Groucho Marx! We also have these things with irridescent wings flying about ... you can judge it's size by the Lantana bloom which is 4cm across ...



I love the geckos!

 

Thanks Walnut. I am woefully ignorant about insects. Some time ago I think I remember Hornbeam recommending a book on British insects, or butterflies, or both. Can anyone remember what it was as I really must do some learning. Thanks in advance

OK I know spiders aren't insects - lets call them creepy crawlies with more than 4 legs :D