Four Spot Orb Weaver

Check out this beauty… The  Four Spot Orb Weaver (Araneus quadratus). The heaviest of the UK spiders and she made quite a clunk when she landed on me just now.

According to the Advancing Arachnology website.

As with other members of the genus, A. quadratus macerates its prey, rather than merely injecting digestive juices, sucking out the resulting “soup” and leaving an empty husk.

http://britishspiders.org.uk/wiki2015/index.php?title=Araneus_quadratus

Nice!… However,

Turning the tables slightly, Bristowe included A. quadratus in his tasting experiment one afternoon when he was staying at Flatford Mill[16]. He doesn’t mention why A. quadratus was chosen for his gastronomic adventure but he does note that, of the spiders tasted that day, “… Araneus quadratus, with a slightly nutty flavour, was the best”.

http://britishspiders.org.uk/wiki2015/index.php?title=Araneus_quadratus

The garden is full of Garden Spiders (Araneus diadematus) and there have been quite a few large  House Spiders Tegenaria spp. in the house lately too. Maybe it’s time for a some proper spider photography and a round up of the spiders of Ynyslas.

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Alan Cole

Alan is a Freelance Website Designer, Sports & Exercise Science Lab Technician and full time Dad & husband with far too many hobbies: Triathlete, Swimming, Cycling, Running, MTBing, Surfing, Windsurfing, SUPing, Gardening, Photography.... The list goes on.