Comments and Questions - Have Your Say

Very pleased with the web site its even been approved in Australia! 
- Avril La Breche, FOSM Chair

I spoke to Avril today about the website, at which we have both looked. It really is excellent.
- John Harding, FOSM Vice Chair

Hi  
Have viewed!  Looks Great!  Well done to Meredith!
- Pam, FOSM Secretary

 

 

Longer Comments

Those Round Pans Around the Marsh?
I was down on the Marsh last Sunday. I saw many of the mud pans. I have two questions. How do these mud pans get formed? And, I was looking into one of the mud pans that was still wet and it is teeming with life both in the mud with all kinds of invertebrates, and also with flying insects, especially a copper-headed and back fly (I wonder what its name is!)... near to this pan were many other mud pans that were dried out (with amazing deep patterned cracks, like miniture dried-up mut flats), but in these pans there was virtually no life (the odd spider crawling over the mud cakes, and small red centipedes), what has happened to all those tiny invertebrates? Do they just die in the baked cakes of mud? Or do they dive deeper and go into a kind of hibernation until the rains come or the tide rises? I'd love to know!
- Marsh Meditator

Thank you for your interesting question. Here is an answer.

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White Spider on a Marsh Mallow?
I was walking on the Marsh on Sunday (14 July) and was admiring the flowering Marshmallows (such beautiful pastel purple flowers), when I suddenly caught sight of a spider in one of the leaves. But this was no ordinary spider! It was brilliant white, like it had been painted with Dulux! Even its legs. Totally white! Very attractive! It was about 1.5cm long including its white legs, and its body was a small ball (a tiny snowball!) about the size of a small hawthorn berry. It appeared totally smooth (no hairs). That's about it. Oh it had no web; also I searched other Marshmallow plants around and couldn't find another of these 'snow' spiders as I've called it. Have you a name you can put to this spider and any other details?
- Spiderwoman

Note: a good picture of a Marshmallow in flower can be seen in the Gallery

Thank you for your interesting question. Here is an answer.

Thank you for identifying my super-white 'snow' spider! Your description as crab-like at first didn't convince me. Its bulbous body doesn't resemble a crab to me! It seems a misnomer! But seeing your picture convinced me that it was the same as what I saw. I was amazed that this spider has the capacity of a chameleon. I wonder how they do it? Very remarkable and beautiful creature. The Marsh is magical and your website is wonderful!
- Spiderwoman.

 

Other Matters

 

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