This slightly large spider was hanging out next to my outdoor spigot. I was like, “uh, move over, spider! I need to water my plants!” And it was all like “Hey! I was here first, and I’ve got babies so you best be moving on…” I liked how it almost matched the stain of my cedar siding. Nice job, spider, I almost didn’t see you there with your long tendril legs…
So, I had to include a few of these passages from Wikipedia about Nursery Web spider copulation:
“The silk generated by the male P. mira is rather versatile; when courting a female nursery web spider, the male spider offers her a “nuptial gift,” usually a prey wrapped up in the male’s silk. This act of gift-giving serves as the first stage of mating, preceding copulation. The female spider then has a choice to either accept the gift and follow through with mating, or chase the male away. After copulation, the male typically takes the nuptial gift back with him.” (ah-HEM.)
Now, female of these spiders are known to be sexually cannibalistic, and it’s probably because they are sick and tired of the male spiders taking their fancy gifts back! I mean, REALLY. “In order to avoid being eaten by the female during mating, the male P. mira wraps the legs of the females in silk prior to and during copulation. More specifically, the male uses his silk to immobilize the female’s legs I and II while he holds her legs III and IV” (again quoted from Wikipedia).
Hm.
Size: up to about 2" long Family: Pisauridae (Nursery-web spiders) Habitat: Prefers transitional areas between woods and fields.
