Norfolk garden spiders display intricate webs on autumn mornings

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 07:02 · Archive

Garden spiders across Norfolk create large dew-covered webs visible on autumn mornings.

Garden spiders, known as cross-orb weavers, create large webs visible across Norfolk on autumn mornings when covered in dew. They weave webs the size of a dinner plate and cling to them resolutely in breezy conditions.

Unlike other spider species that invade homes as winter approaches, garden spiders prefer the outdoor life. They establish themselves on hedgerows, shrubs and sheds. The spiders sit in the centre of their webs, waiting for insects. They detect prey through vibrations in the silk, much like an angler waiting for a bite.

When prey arrives, the spider quickly bites the insect to paralyse it, then wraps it in silk for later consumption. Female spiders lay their eggs in a sac attached to vegetation, fences or buildings. They typically succumb to the first hard frosts, leaving their young to hatch in spring.

How it is being reported

• Autumn mornings show off Norfolk 'Orb-weavers' webs in all their intricate gloryAutumn mornings show off Norfolk garden spiders' webs in all their glory.Norwich Evening News · 18 Oct, 06:00
• Autumn mornings show off Norfolk 'Orb-weavers' webs in all their intricate gloryAutumn mornings show off Norfolk garden spiders' webs in all their glory.Eastern Daily Press · 18 Oct, 06:00

In this story: Norfolk

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