IS it a wasp? Is it a spider? Journal reader Chloe Duncan wasn’t sure either when she discovered this unusual looking insect in her garden. A quick bit of research revealed it is a wasp spider from northern Asia and although they do bite, it is not dangerous and more like a bee or wasp sting.

The insect is about five centimetres long, has distinctive black and yellow markings and its web includes a zigzag design, thought to attract insects. “I’d never seen anything like it before,” said Mrs Duncan. “I certainly wasn’t expecting to find it in my garden in Salisbury. I looked it up on the internet to see if it is dangerous and although it isn’t harmful, it is a very different kind of spider.”

Mrs Duncan’s son Max was very excited by the discovery and enjoyed peeping at the wasp spider once it was safely in a jar.