Come and admire this spider - advice wanted!

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

We have been fortunate enough to have a rather large garden spider move into our garage, and have been watching - ds and I with fascination, dh with horror - as she spun her web and generally got herself comfy. She has chosen a ledge underneath a window which is always tipped open; it wouldn't have been my first choice to make a home, but I must say she's done a really good job of it When it became clear she was going to stay, ds named her oh-so-imaginatively "Incy".

Over the last month or so, she's been stockpiling flies in a homespun bag, and I was wondering why....now I think I know, as Incy is the proud mother of a hoarde of baby spiders, and who has time to go food shopping when you've got newborns?

Anyway, I was wondering whether there was any way of "encouraging" some of the little spiders to stick around?
I would really like to have one on the terrace. Would it be possible to take one of the little ones and keep it in some sort of box - I was thinking something with netting on the front - until it was established, and then opening it up so it was free again (but would hopefully stay there)?

I love spiders, and ds and I have so enjoyed watching Incy, it seems a shame that her kids will probably all move away or choose darker more hidden spots to live in (teenagers, eh?).

Am I totally mad? Is this a bad idea? We don't touch the spiders or do anything, we just like watching them.
If anyone has any advice on how to go about this, I'd really appreciate it.
Photos on profile, btw, for the not faint-of-heart

[brimfull]

aaaarrggh!

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

She is rather impressive, isn't she?

[bohemianbint]

Oh my word. I assume that's a regular spider and not some psychotic tropical interloper?

[claireybee]

Are you mad???

I'm all squirmy just thinking about it!

[posieparker]

OMG, I am a run away and hide from spider person!!

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

Well, I'm assuming she's a regular spider. I think we've just been lucky that she chose such a visible spot to live in, I'm sure you get spiders like this everywhere but we just don't usually see them.

I think she would bite though - she looks like she has fangs. There must be some spider experts on here who could help?

I would quite like to have a tarantula or something similar, but a)dh would leave me and b)I'm not convinced that it's actually A Good Thing for the spider to be kept in such a way. I am not keen on any animals in cages or similar.

But we've been fascinated watching Incy do her thing, and ds is now telling everyone that we have an "Incy Mummy"

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

BUMPing because I know you all want to see this spider really

[brimfull]

my friends dh kept a tarantula..until she found it in the laundry bin

I would shit myself

[bohemianbint]

I find spiders fascinating to look at but would wet my pants if one came near me. (Especially one like yours!)

Will watch with interest. Have you tried to indentify it? Looks like one of the ones in "Arachnophobia"...

[PortBlacksandResident]

WHY DID I CLICK ON THAT LINK???

I am like a moth to the web flame.

[Madmentalbint]

Yes, you are obviously completely bonkers

I'm actually quite envious of people who can enjoy being around spiders. They are
hideous fascinating but I just can't get past the phobia to appreciate them. I would be quite happy if I never ever saw one again.

[bohemianbint]

oooh, another bint, hellO!

[2cats2many]

OMG

[PortBlacksandResident]

Incy wincy spider went to Hopeys house.
Incy Wincy spider bonked (then ate) her spouse.
How will she cope with all the DCs she's got?
She goes on 'MumsWeb' on her weeny laptop.

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

BUMPing because there MUST be someone else out there who appreciates what a fine specimin she is? And aren't the little ones getting you all broody?

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

lol @ Port

[Madmentalbint]

Broody? Erm....no. Not for eight legged creepies anyway

Hello!

[GeckoLovingHornedThing]

ugh why? why did I look?


yes she is impressive but ARRRRRGGGGHHHHH

[siblingrivalry]

Just showed my dds the photos -they were fascinated. Thanks for sharing

[TaLcYeth]

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

Incy Update (because I know, despite all the shudders, you're all interested really ):

Just went into the garage and couldn't see Incy anywhere. Was worried that having had her little ones, she'd buggered off.
Was getting a bit anxious when dh pointed out - not entirely happily - that she was coming back through the window, which indeed she was .

It turns out that as well as the ledge inside the garage window, Incy has done up the ledge outside too, giving herself a nice little patio. There is even a little leaf in the outside web, positioned - not entirely by chance, I feel - just like a small hammock.

Isn't she supberb?!

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

(please ignore extra "b" in that!)

[Ewe]

Gah, why did I click?! I am a complete arachnophobic.

[MrsTiggiwinkle]

I have NO IDEA why I looked at those photos