The zebras on our plot have eight legs rather than four. They are zebra spiders so called because of their black and white stripes.
Excuse the lack of detail in the photos but these spiders are quite tiny about 6mm long and this particular one was fast on its feet.
Zebra spiders belong to a group of spiders known as jumping spiders and don't build webs. Instead they hunt down their prey like a big cat would with the obvious difference in size of the prey!
Zebra spiders belong to a group of spiders known as jumping spiders and don't build webs. Instead they hunt down their prey like a big cat would with the obvious difference in size of the prey!
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They are small, I have spotted some in my garden too, it is full of bugs this year which I am rather pleased about. It must have take you ages to take the photo.
ReplyDeleteActually I just had seconds to take the photos, Jo as it kept moving quickly - it was a case of quickly clicking whist it was more or less still.
DeleteFascinating creatures - I hope they didn't bite you! I once had a tiny spiders nest in a plant on my balcony; hundreds of hatched babies would all spread out on the web but if you touched the plant, causing it to tremble slightly, they all scurried back to the centre and formed a tight globe! Endless fun watching them!
ReplyDeleteNo biting, Caro it was more interested in running away!
DeleteI have these, they freaked me the first time I saw them jump, but now I am used to them and waste far too much time watching them instead of doing work!
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean Deborah and welcome.
DeleteSo glad you didn't have too much detail! I feel so brave to be typing so close to my screen right now (I don't do spiders I'm afraid!). We have false widows in our garden which are 'pretty' with their black waxy look but they give a nip like a bee sting. xx
ReplyDeleteI bet you are glad they aren't real black widows, Chel
DeleteSpider who don't built web? that's very new to me....it look a bit scary to me... ;)
ReplyDeleteThey're only really small so not really scary, Malar. The photos are about ten times bigger than the real thing!
DeleteWhen I saw a title I didn't think the photo would be a scary spider (all spiders are scary to me). We don't have them here (dancing happily) we only have little green ones that burn your skin when you touch them :/
ReplyDeleteYou'd be much better off with this harmless little creature, Leanan. I'm guessing you didn't find out about a spider burn through experience- can't imagine you getting close enough to touch one!
DeleteWhat a striking little spider! I have never seen or heard of them but they sure are interesting to look at.xxxx
ReplyDeleteI certainly is when you get a magnified view, Snowbird.
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