NEN Gallery

A very common spider that can be seen between June and October, living where ever there is vegetation. Females can reach 17mm in length, males are smaller. The abdomen colour is quite variable, ranging from dark brown to bright orange or greenish. Whatever the colour it always has four white spots on its back and legs are banded. Adult females can actively change their colour to match their environment taking a period of about four days. It builds its web close to the ground to catch jumping insects such as small grasshoppers. The female builds a more complex web with a funnel-shaped retreat on one side where she goes during bad weather. Picture taken Septembr 9th at Old Warden, Bedfordshire