I love photographing wasp spiders. Every summer I look forward to their emergence, and I’m always excited to find my first small specimens, before they have grown into their colourful adult form. It’s the species that really got me hooked on macro photography.
Large and unmistakeable, the Wasp Spider inhabits unmanaged grassland, where it preys predominantly on grasshoppers. I will never forget my first encounter. For someone who is not completely comfortable with creepy crawlies, it was quite a shock to stumble upon such a large spider!
The female will often remain on the same web for several days, sometimes even weeks. Staying in the hub of the web above the zig-zag bands of silk - the stabilimentum. She will normally only move when an unfortunate prey item stumbles into the web, or a much smaller male Wasp Spider arrives to mate. The unfortunate male often ends up as a meal after mating, with the female wrapping him in her strong silk within seconds.
The first spider I photographed in 2023. This is a focus stacked image made up from 60 separate images.
A flash and focus stacking was used for maximum detail
Note the not very well spun stabilimentum
Highlighting just how much larger the female is compared to the male
Backlighting makes the stabilimentum highly visible.
It's not often you find a female away from the hub of the web.
Backlit in the morning sun
The size difference is noticeable between the sexes as this female wraps the male in silk after mating.
One of the largest specimens I found in 2021.
A beautifully lit specimen on an August morning.
Evening light catches this female who had made her web on the edge of some brambles.
A young female, small and yet to moult into her adult colours.
This male was waiting close to a female
I love finding wasp spiders on dewy mornings'
A not yet fully mature female with food reserves
A 15 image stack gave a nice clean background
The markings on the abdomen are unique to each spider.
Sinking her fangs into a freshly caught meal.
Single strands of silk are used for the web.
Multiple strands of silk is used during the construction of the stabilimentum.
Perfectly positioned web for intercepting grasshoppers and crickets.
Beautifully marked.
Dewy mornings make the spiders much easier to find as the sun picks out the water droplets on the web.
Where it all started, my first ever picture of a wasp spider
Don't look up!
macro photography in wiltshire photographing wasp spiders