Favoritos de josscarr

Large group of small social spiders working on a sheet web together.

The sheet web was around a Gypsywort plant (Lycopus europaeus) - recorded separately here: inaturalist.org/observations/191841572

Ensnared in the centre of the sheet web was what looked like a grub or larva or cocoon or something - recorded separately here: inaturalist.org/observations/191841985

A pretty cool find in my opinion, and an interesting example of two species (one native and one non-native) working together in an unexpected way.

Here we see a very small cucumber spider (Araniella sp.) sheltering in one of indented 'pockets' made in the leaf of a Karo (Pittosporum crassifolium) plant as the gall of the Pittosporum psyllid (Powellia vitreoradiata).

Both Karo and the Pittosporum psyllid are non-native to the Isles of Scilly, the former was deliberately introduced and the latter accidentally. Karo was introduced from New Zealand as it is an excellent wind- and salt-tolerant plant that can be used for bordering fields to shelter the crops. It is used particularly around fields where flowers are grown for commercial sale here. The psyllid hitchhiked along for the ride.

See separate observation for the Pittosporum psyllid here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193497087