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Argiope
Name: Dianne F
Status: other
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001281
Question:
Greetings.
We have enjoyed watching an argiope in our garden all summer. My two
sons, 2 & 5, have learned quite a bit about spiders as we have watched
her spin her web, eat, and "bounce" whenever we excite her.
Yesterday, she seemed to disappear but reappeared today in a
different local. I then noticed her egg sack hanging near her old
web.
I would like to "capture" the egg sack somehow
(possibly for my son's new kindergarden class) and watch and wait
(mostly wait) for the baby spiders to emerge in the spring. Is this
possible? I am concerned about what type of environment to put it in
and when they do come out, how can I contain them without suffocating
them.
On behalf of my son Ivan, and his teacher, any information
you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Replies:
Sorry for the late reply, I hope this is still useful. Argiope's overwinter
in the egg sac, you could probably collect it and keep it in a cool place
over winter, then put it out in a warmer place in April or May, and with
luck, watch the spiders emerge. If you do keep the egg sac, be sure it stays
cool so the spiders do not emerge in winter, and let them out into a suitable
habitat very soon after they come out.
J. Elliott
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Update: June 2012
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