The wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi) is one of Britain’s most eye-catching arachnids. With bold stripes and a beautifully engineered web, this orb-weaving spider is hard to miss where it occurs. Once largely associated with southern England, it is now spreading further north as suitable habitat becomes available.
The female is the star of the show. Much larger than the male, she wears vivid yellow, black and white markings that give the species its wasp-like appearance. This striking mimicry may help deter predators by suggesting danger, even though the spider itself poses no threat to people. Males are smaller, duller and far less conspicuous, often staying hidden in vegetation close to the female’s web.
Late summer is a good time to look for wasp spiders as females are busy feeding on insects and producing egg sacs that will see the next generation through winter. After mating, the female creates a large, brown, papery egg sac and attaches it to nearby vegetation. The spiderlings hatch the following spring and disperse by ballooning, releasing fine silk threads that catch the wind and carry them to new places. Look for their webs in grasslands, meadows and other open, sunny places, including heathlands of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust nature reserves.
