Wasp Spiders

Whilst out doing a reptile survey this morning, I happened upon a couple of wasp siders - much to my delight. The photo is of a female, they are pretty big being about the size of a 2p coin. The males are much smaller and sometimes provide a meal for a hungry female after mating! Both sexes have markings which resemble those of a bee or a wasp, but the female is a much more impressive sight to behold.
They are spreading their range northwards probably in response to milder winters and need rough uncut grass to build their webs. They may look like they have dangerous markings but thankfully they are harmless to humans.
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