Nick Upton / Running foliage spider / Spiny-legged sac spider (Liocranum rupicola), a nationally scarce species in the UK, hunting at night in an old stone wall, Wiltshire, UK, September.

Brian Bevan / Wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi) weaving egg sac, Bedfordshire, England, UK, Agust.

Alex Hyde / Egg sac of European Cave Spider (Meta menardi) suspended from roof of limestone cave. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. January.

Alex Hyde / Wolf Spider (Xerolycosa nemoralis) female carrying egg sac, photographd on a white background. Aosta Valley, Monte Rosa Massif, Pennine Alps, Italy. July.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Benvie / Female Raft spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) carrying egg sac, Fliess, Naturpark Kaunergrat, Tirol, Austria, July 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Benvie / Female Raft spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) with egg sac, Fliess, Naturpark Kaunergrat, Tirol, Austria, July 2008

Gerry Ellis / Wandering Spider (Cupiennius coccineus) with egg sac under abdomen, not visible in photo, Mesoamerica

MYN / Joao P. Burini / Sac spider (Corinnidae) male, Atlantic forest, Itatiaia National Park, Brazil. Meetyourneighbours.net project.

MYN / Joao P. Burini / Sac spider (Corinnidae) male, Atlantic forest Itatiaia National Park, Brazil. Meetyourneighbours.net project.

Bernard Castelein / Spider (Tibellus oblongus) female on egg sac, Klein Schietveld, Brasschaat, Belgium. July

Bernard Castelein / Nursery web spider (Pisaura mirabilis) female with egg sac, Peerdsbos, Brasschaat, Belgium. July

Alex Hyde / Long-spinnered Bark Spider (Hersiliidae sp) protecting egg sac on tree bark. Tropical rainforest, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar. October.