Black and Yellow Orb Weaver Spider Egg Sac relocation

October 12, 2016 7:00 AM

This summer we had a lovely black and yellow orb weaver (named Agnes) set up on our porch. She hung out for a few weeks, ate heartily, and ultimately laid a nice egg sac in the corner of said porch and died/moved locations. The Catch: We may be moving soon and I don't want the sac to be destroyed by the next owners.

I'm concerned that the next owners will not be as open about thousands of baby spiders inhabiting the front porch and will destroy the sac. Is there any way for me to safely and effectively move the spider egg sac with us? Is this a terrible idea? Will they be harmed in their cute tiny forms?

We're only moving a few blocks away to a larger house, and I'd love to have the spiders go with us so they can hatch and eat bad bugs at our new place and just be gorgeous in general. Primarily though, I just don't want them to be killed by the realty company or the next owners (I don't think a thousand house guests is a selling point, even if it would be for me).

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

posted by Twain Device to Science & Nature (4 answers total)

Best answer: Just carefully move it.

When you go to re-mount it try to find a similar protected location in the new place, ideally with similar direction of exposure (e.g. if it was on the north of old house, try to put it on north of new house).

You can mount it using a small tack or piece of masking tape. You might damage a few eggs, but there are many, many eggs in there.

I'm not looking at it, but unless it's very sturdily plastered into a tight corner, I think you'll be ok to transplant it.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:07 AM on October 12, 2016 [6 favorites]

Best answer: We do this quite often, and we don't even "remount" the egg case. We put it in a small, clean Chinese take-out box with one of the lid leaves removed. It provides a sizeable window for gas exchange and, eventually, an egress. We tip the box on its side and tuck it under the fusebox on our porch.

Good luck!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:04 AM on October 12, 2016 [13 favorites]

Yep, I'd try moving it. Put it in a, sheltered place. I wouldn't put it on the ground for fear ants or other insects might get to it and eat the eggs. Though I suppose there's nothing stopping the ants from climbing up to wherever you do place it... Well, anyway, good luck and I hope everything turns out OK.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 10:48 PM on October 12, 2016

I'd do what LADH suggested, and then take them with you. It's equally as likely that the new tenants will squash non-egg friends as well.

thank you so much for saving friends!
posted by FirstMateKate at 7:53 AM on October 13, 2016