Motherly ‘Love’

The New Zealand nursery web spider ( Dolomedes minor) is a spider endemic to New Zealand.

The female of the species carries her eggs with her until they are ready to hatch, she then spins a “nursery” in which the young spiderlings can develop.

She guards the nursery by sitting on it at night and hiding close by during the day.

Have a closer look; you will notice the little spiderlings in the nursery (where her posterior middle leg touches the web).

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New Zealand nursery web spider ( Dolomedes minor) on nursery web with spiderlings.

(#26 of 100)