Wolf Spider with Babies on Her Back

Today while I was harvesting some strawberries (yes, we're still getting strawberries!), I thought for sure I had discovered a new species of spider.

It was a big spider.

REALLY big.

It's body alone had to be at least an inch across.

But the size of the spider didn't phase me much -- I've seen spiders this size before, even inside our old farmhouse! It looked like a wolf spider, and, although I know there are tons of different kinds of wolf spiders, I had never seen a wolf spider here in Virginia with such a fuzzy body.

The spider's body looked totally crazy.

I was pretty sure I either stumbled across a spider with some weird disease, or I discovered a new species of spider. And as I stared at the spider trying to think of what I would name my new discovery (the Caryl Spider? The Fuzzy-Wuzy Spider?, The Sweater-Wearing Spider?, The Teddybear Spider?), I saw something on it's back move ever so slightly.

The spider stayed very still and let me inch closer. so I moved in as close as possible to get a better look. I'm as blind as a bat, so I had to get pretty close.

To my astonishment, I realized that this wasn't just one big spider, but hundreds of spiders! Teeny tiny baby spiders were hitching a ride on their mother's back and she was just plodding along like it was nothing out of the ordinary.

CRAZY!

She very patiently allowed me to take a few photos of her babies and then disappeared into the strawberries. Just think of all the bugs she and her brood will be eating in my garden!

ps -- I'm pretty sure her name was Charlotte.

Sep 21 2013

Join the Conversation!

dwc
September 21, 2013

Wow, you are quite the scientist (too!)
Great photo!

Reply

Caryl
September 21, 2013

ha ha ha!!!


Myrtle
September 22, 2013

I will not be able to sleep for weeks! CREEPY! But, as DWC noted, fantastic photo!

Reply

Caryl
September 22, 2013

Just start calling them all "Charlotte" & you'll have a different feeling about them :-)


Post a Comment

Your Name
Website (optional)
Check here to receive an email notification when someone replies directly to your comment
Help me fight spammers! Please enter the answer to 1 + 1 below