www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

On Wednesday, me and my daughters met up with Gibster to look for Silver spotted Skippers at Box Hill zig zag. Despite some extensive serching, skippers were only noticable by their absence. Butterflies we did come across were Brown Argus, (probably the most numerous); Meadow Brown; Gatekeeper; Common Blue; some nice Chalkhill blue males; a faded male Dark Green Fritillary; Small Copper a couple of small skippers, one large skipper and (surprisingly) a fresh male Adonis Blue in the car park.
We also came across this spider which my daughter named "Knotty" As I don't have a spider book I've looked up on google and the nearest match is araneus cucurbitina, but I don't think that's him? Are there any spider experts reading this who may be able to help? Just after lunchtime my eldest got stung by a wasp (again, they always 'pick on' her) which brought a premature end to search. This is my second day out looking for SsSkippers, the first at Old Winchester Hill (very nice place: thanks for the tip Mark T ... but no SsS). Now I'm back to work, trips out are limited. Fingers crossed for Denbies this Saturday.

Hi Phil,
Araneus quadratus for me.

Chris

Hi Chris
Think I like Knotty better, my daughter certainly will
I'll go and check it out. Thanks

Philzoid wrote:I'll go and check it out.

Yes, definitely a four-spot orb web. Quite a lot of variation in colour and in the markings on this species.

A. quadratus??? But it was so small! Surely they should be huge great fat things by now, preying on mice, birds and unsuspecting puppies?

(And it's not even a lifer, Chris...boo!)

Gibster.

There was a time not so long ago when Isabella would've run a mile at the mere sight of a spider . Now she gives them pet names . If she continues like this in a few years time I can see the house being given over to tarantula's scorpions and the like Where did I go wrong