NEN Gallery

The Nursery Web Spider grows to 15mm and has long powerful legs. When not moving it typically holds its front two pairs of legs together pointing forwards. During mating the male presents the female with a carefully wrapped insect as a present. It has very good vision and are active hunters searching for prey amongst grasses and low vegetation. The female carries her large eggs sac beneath her body, held in the jaws. Prior to the spiderlings hatching she fixes it to some plants and spins a silken tent around it and then stands guard. It is the distinctive tents that give her away. She guards the eggs and spiderlings, giving rise to the English name of Nursery Web Spider. It is most commonly seen between March to September. Picture taken 3rd Spetember 2011 at Old Warden, Bedfordshire.