Nursery Web Spider

by Jacki
(Grand Forks, B.C. Canada)

These drab coloured brownish grey spiders hide under pieces of wood, or among the larger bits of unfinished compost. They're quick to run away, carrying their web of eggs with them.

They don't build a nest as such, until the egg sac is about to hatch, when they make a sprawling loose web for the spiderlings. They hang around to protect their youngsters until they move off to make their own way in the world.

These are great predators in the garden, eating a wide array of ground dwelling insects.