With so much insect and spider activity in progress at the moment, I was drawn back for another walk on Pevensey Levels today. My main focus was to search for Fen Raft Spiders but the first photo opportunity was provided by a freshly emerged Four-spotted Chaser hardening its wings amongst the water weed.
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius).
This adult female has her abdomen swollen with eggs and she will soon be ready to make her silken egg sac in which to lay them.
The markings of both male and female plantarius can be very variable. This male is sporting a particularly fine livery.
In the photograph below, a male (left) has approached a female presumably intending to mate with her. I decided to leave them to it.
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