"Charlotte", the Green Lynx Spider was named after the movie "Charlotte's Web". I spent months observing her from baby to proud and protective mother. I was fascinated and inspired by her maternal dedication. Her normally green body camoflaged pink like the flower she was on when she was pregnant. She ate like she was eating for a 100, while her babies' eggs formed inside her tiny womb. When it was time, she gently placed her eggs into the silk sac she made. Never leaving it, she would go without food for long periods of time, patiently waiting. Finally, the nursery sac burst open with many tiny baby Charlotte's! They quickly camoflaged in reddish brown color, like the dead leaves around them. They would all shed their first little skins together as they grew out of the old ones (seen in last photo below). Charlotte was always there, ever vigilant, so no harm would come to them. Then one day... they were all gone.
(Young Charlotte)
(Ahh, the lovely pink gentle glow of pregnancy.)
(Whoa...do NOT get between a pregnant female and her food!)
(Notice the stretch marks, I felt so much better knowing all mothers can get them...smile)
(The joy of a noisy, busy nursery...does the young mother look a little 'crazy' in the eyes to you too?! Guess the romanticism of having children has worn off, ya think?)
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