The World of Minibeasts

Argiope Nursery - Insulation and Encasing

But a single layer of insulation is not going to make a cocoon. Another layer made of loose, frizzled, brown silk is wrapped around the first one to protect the interior treasure from physical shock and impact.

After giving away this much of body substance, the hind part of the female shrinks and the front part appears relatively large now. 

The brown layer is not sufficient to give a proper cocoon yet. The paddy ball is upholstered by another thick layer that, at least by its light color seems to have the same quality as the base had, which is invisible by now.

Finally, that layer is covered by a very dense and smooth and layer of nearly the same colour. It makes rain and dew bead from its surface and protects the eggs and later on the young spiders from getting wet. The exhausted female now rests and guards the cocoon until dawn.

This series of pictures shows the amazing expenditure of energy and care that this large and beautiful spider species invests into protecting its offspring. The female is able to make two or sometimes three of these cocoons in late summer and autumn, after which she dies. 

Her offspring hatch later in autumn and hibernate within the cocoon. The young spiders leave the cocoon in spring, weaving their own webs during the warm season to multiply in late summer and autumn. 

Argiope bruennichi occurs in warm, dry places of central Europe. Extensive meadow management (is this what management opposed to intensive is called? Do you use these terms or is this just German) allowing for high grass till late summer is needed to ensure its survival.

Photographs by José Verkest, Tex by  Maria Pfeifer