This summer in the meadow we discovered black and yellow garden spiders (Argiope aurantia) all around. We had read that they lived here but had not seen one in our five summers of running hill and dale around Nova Scotia, and now here we had many... many times over. As it was nearing the end of summer they started creating egg sacs and standing guard...
unless by walking by we happen to stir up the grass hoppers and one found itself in the amazingly strong web. Spider wasted no time wrapping up its future meal before heading back up to stand guard at the egg sac or station herself in the middle of her web.
See her amazing spinnerets at work.
On a fall hike this week we spotted those same egg sacs left unattended for the winters duration. Mother spider dies not long after creating the egg sac with eggs left safely encapsulated.
From what we have read the spiderlings will hatch before winter (maybe already?) and overwinter inside the sac.
Amazing nature.
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