Green Orb-Weaver Spiders

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Scientific name:  Araniella cucurbitina

Size:  Up to 6mm

Distribution:  Found throughout the UK

Months seen:  April to October

Habitat:  Usually found on low growing bushes and in hedgerows

Food:  Flies and other small invertebrates which are caught in their webs

Special features:  Green Orb-weavers, as the name suggests, have a bright green abdomen and a reddish-brown coloured head.  Just above the spinners (the tail end) they have a bright red spot.  This is more obvious on young spiders and can only be seen from underneath the spider.

Despite their almost fluorescent colour the Green Orb-weavers can remain very well camouflaged amongst vegetation.  It's only when they stray from their normal habitat they become more noticable.  Green orb-weavers are a common native species found throughout the UK and northern Europe.

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