Ive been checking on this mummy spider daily but i am getting concerned that a bird may get her or other bugs - I am just wondering when the babies spiders will start leaving the nest as I would like to move the potted plant away from my house because the house has been professionally sprayed - I want them to live so please dont suggest I kill - thank you.
skin1235,
Apr 27, 9:44pm
I had always thought that there was just one distinct genus of spider called the Nurse Spider
appears the nursery behaviour is common to a lot of spiders
on that note it may pay to identify the genus of this nursery mummy - she may not actually be a desirable to have in and around the house
re the spray?, it will still be effective, so if you want her and her babies to live it should be removed from the house proximity
there sticks in the mind that the 'mummies' usually end up having a good feed of the babies when they emerge - the sheer numbers involved means a few will survive
molly37,
Apr 28, 7:52am
ewwwwwww That spider is huge! Braver than me having that in the garden.
lythande1,
Apr 28, 8:17am
Move it. SPider will be OK, most of the babies get eaten, but enough live. You do realise The lowest estimate is densities of 0.64 spiders per square metre . The highest density is 842 spiders per square metre.
So you don't notice most, but they are actually everywhere on your property.
smyrnia,
Apr 28, 9:24am
This is our common nursery web spider, Dolomedes minor. It's getting real late for the young ones to have much chance of survival. Put the plant beside / under a bush for a while so the young ones have some cover and a chance to find food as they move away from home.
so i just went running outside and got soaked (yes call me crazy) cause i guess at some point the wind blew the pot over and yes mummy spider was still there but the water from our gutters was pouring down onto the plant, i grabbed it (hoping she wouldnt jump) and i now have her in the carport drying off - once dried, im just going to move the whole pot (away from the house) but to somewhere safe so they can start to move. Im actually amazed how long the mum spider has stuck around.
mansonprincess,
Apr 28, 12:24pm
wow, what a biggie, what is the difference between wolf spider and nursery spider, your one looks like it has bigger legs.
mansonprincess,
Apr 28, 12:25pm
here i am trying to save the babies only to be told they will possibly get eaten :( ahhhh
smyrnia,
Apr 28, 1:51pm
what is the difference between wolf spider and nursery spider, Wolf spiders are members of the Lycosidae family, D. minor is a member of family Pisauridae Dolomedes are quite happy in the rain, one member of the family D. aquaticus is as the name implies an aquatic species. During daylight hrs D. minor is usually found at the base of the plant the nest is in. Do you have a compost heap ? the young ones will need to find some small prey if they are to survive.
skin1235,
Apr 28, 6:21pm
again with the 'sticks in the mind', mummy spider provides no food, and once in the tent the only food source is the other wee spiders, cannibalism? is the food source? or are they still living from the egg/hatch source until they leave the tent
starseeker,
Apr 28, 7:05pm
When I am weeding I often see mummy spiders carrying their egg sacs around with them. If they inadvertently drop the sac they will cast around until they find it again. Also often see ants moving their babies if their nest is disturbed or sometimes just before it rains; they seem to sense a change in the weather which may drown the nest. It's not only humans that are conditioned to care for their young.
kiwisapper,
Apr 28, 7:19pm
How about under your bed. Should be nice and warm and dry.?
mansonprincess,
Apr 28, 7:21pm
haha my husband was having a go because he plant is right next to his ute in the carport
mansonprincess,
Apr 28, 7:23pm
i have no idea what they are eating, all i can see if that they are all huddled together with mummy spider taking guard - she has not moved at all
mansonprincess,
Apr 29, 10:48am
This morning there was another one near the door. I wanted to move it. it went under the show box. I lifted the box and then i noticed it squashed. now I'm sitting here feeling guilty. I was trying to help it :(
mansonprincess,
Nov 18, 10:40pm
Yip so i was pretty upset as here i am trying to save one and i ended up accidently killing another and I'm still upset about it. On another note mummy spider and babies are ok from the rain. They had made a web and started making their way out. I quickly moved them from the car port to elsewhere to they can move on (hopefully into the open)
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