The Lethal Bite Of The European Garden Spider

A European garden spider - also known as "cross spider" or "cross orb-weaver" (Araneus diadematus) - about to bite its victim

Although the bite of a European garden spider is not dangerous to humans, it is all the more deadly for insects that get caught in its web. The photos show how this huge female injects its venom into a wasp with its chelicerae.

The venomous fangs - the “chelicerae” - of the European garden spider are clearly visible in the photo

It was pure luck that I caught the exact moment of the spider injecting its venom into its prey with my camera: just as I was trying to photograph a huge cross orb-weaver in my garden, the wasp flew into its web. Within seconds, the spider had wrapped up the insect, while I was clicking away wildly.

The victim - a scoliid wasp (Scolia hirta) - tried to defend itself with its sting, but the moment the spider injected its venom, the fight was instantly over.

The cross spider sinks its chelicerae deep into the wasp, the venom will dissolve and liquefy the victim's internal structures

After the venom of the cross spider has taken effect and the inside of the wasp has liquefied, it is sucked out by the spider

With a body length of up to approx. 2.2 cm (not including the legs), the garden spider is one of the largest European spiders. Depending on the environment, this species can be colored differently; it lives between 1 to a maximum of 3 years, depending on the environmental conditions, and is often found in our gardens. The males are significantly smaller than the females and also have a shorter lifespan; it is also not uncommon for them to be eaten by the females after mating.

Cross spiders are not aggressive towards humans, and you would have to provoke them very strongly or hold them in your hand for them to bite. The largest specimens are able to penetrate the thinnest parts of human skin with their chelicerae when they bite, but the venom is harmless to humans (unless someone has an allergic reaction).

A cross orb-weaver has caught a fly in its web

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