Garden Spiderlings--Araneus diadematus--W9F0024.jpg 5X Lifesize

These recently hatched spiderlings are about 2-3mm in length, and will remain in a communal web for a week or so before ballooning off to make their own webs. Ballooning is when the spider releases silk threads from its abdomen that form a sort of gossamer sail or parachute that is picked up by wind currents carrying the spiderling away from the communal web.