One early Sunday morning i was out after coffee, donned with my normal jogging pants, long sleeves and a hat. I am expecting to see a lot of butterflies. I purposely intend to go to my so called "butterfly sanctuary" i term i give to an area under some trees where the undergrowths consist of both hosts and nectaring plants for butterfly. For the many visits i've been going there, it did not fail me. Many butterflies converge there, and also maybe the already very tall trees give the butterflies the environment both not fully exposed to the sun and the enough humidity for them to live nicely.
However, this time my time was spent differently. I noticed that the area's vegetation are already in the mature stage, maybe not anymore good hosts for the caterpillars. So i took photos of some moths and beetles that i normally ignore when butterflies abound. This morning the primary purpose is not there so i took photos of whatever took my fancy. Even the dried grass fruits ready for wind dispatch are good photo subjects.
Then i found this! I was a bit scared as they are very plenty, newly hatched baby spiders. Maybe they are hundreds of thousands in one group. I thought they might just have newly emerged. I can't even see the egg sacs they emerged from.
undisturbed yet
I watched closely at the somehow not moving spiderlings, just hanging on those almost invisible fine webs. I can't even see their mother even outside the community.
After getting a few pictures i tried disturbing the web with some little movements.
Everybody moved downwards sliding on the web threads attached to the base of the plant they are in. Can you see the fine threads sparkling with the morning sunlight? They seem to be very strong, swirling pliantly with the wind.
There they go, everybody's instinct is to come down for safety, maybe to hide on the ground. They can sense that their present predator is big maybe because of the strong movement of their web-house. Others just fell, maybe purposely or maybe they just slipped from the web, i don't know! The drama continues and i was so curious with my little experiment.
After a few minutes, and after i am done with my photos i stopped moving the branch they are in. Just a few seconds of silence and they immediately rushed upwards again to their big original community. I just am not sure what happens to those that fell to the ground, i hope they can still come up to their safety again. Their pace is so fast, in a few seconds they are already up there again. The only signal or communication they have is the movement of their web and the branch the web is clinging.
Spiderlings are hatched with that plenty of numbers because their predators are plenty, and a lot of them die while at their spiderling-hood stage. The number is nature's way of preserving the species through the few that will survive its harsh environment. I just did not have the time to observe more for their other characteristics as a group, nor to watch for any predator that might come here. Or probably with my presence for a few minutes, they were spared by the predators who are also scared of me. I went there again 2 weeks after, they were not there anymore. I hope that means they are already independent making their own lives, away from their spider siblings!
OMG & wow! Amazing photos of these million little spider babies. Have never seen anything like this. You happened to be in the right place at just the right time!
ReplyDeleteYes Ritta, you're correct I was at the right place at the right time. This is selsom seen. I've seen it only twice in my decades of living in our area. Thanks for visiting.
DeleteFascinating series of shots - I have never personally seen this … thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit Angie, yes they are not often seen even here. I've seen them 2x yet.
DeleteSuch an interesting post, those babies are very cute. Spiders are so fascinating because they are so alien compared to us. I wonder how many will survive, how large will they grow and what species they are.
ReplyDeleteI have actually been asking groups about it, but seems difficult to ID yet at that stage. Thanks for visiting.
DeleteHoly cow! The mother load of creepy-crawlies.
ReplyDeleteHahaha yes, exactly!
Deleteyikes
ReplyDeletehahaha yes!
DeleteI hope they don't grow big enough to eat you butterflies!
ReplyDeleteYes Nick, but i don't even know what they look like as adults. Those small crab spiders though very small are deadly to much bigger ones!
DeleteThat is amazing. I've never seen anything like that in our climate. The habitat where you live must be very rich to produce such an abundance of spiders. Thanks for visiting my blog, so far way in miles but not in thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming over my post Phil, actually i am your follower in the past for a long time, though not in birding but your Cabinet of Curiosities and other blogs.
DeleteThat is a lot of spiders!
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting read about your personal encounter with Charlotte’s Web. I’ve seen similar in my neck of the woods and marvel at how survival kicks in for all life. Perhaps mankind is the only species that knowingly goes about wrecking its own broader home and, in the process, the homes of all creatures.
ReplyDeleteOMG, that is incredible. I have not seen anything like this before. What a great documentation. Long time no hear. Too busy with life and work, no?
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
This is very interesting - I've noticed in my garden that little spiders vanish from the web quite quickly and I've always assumed spread out for safety. I really don't like walking into a web,for them and for me! Different species but I suppose their behavoiur is similar. Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteThey were probably in one egg case...Yes many of them will be eaten of fed to baby birds....Michelle
ReplyDeleteWow, what an amazing sight to see. The spiders and web are a neat find. I just want not want them crawling on me, lol. PS. I appreciate your comment and visit. Happy Wednesday, enjoy your day!
ReplyDelete