Missing Sector Spiders

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Scientific name:  Zygiella x-notata

Size:  Up to 7mm

Distribution:  Found throughout the UK

Months seen:  Females can be seen all year round.  Males are usually more active in the summer months.

Habitat:  Frequently on window frames and around houses

Food:  Small invertebrates

Special features:  Missing Sector spiders have a silver-grey coloured abdomen with a brown oak leaf pattern on the dorsal area.  The legs are light brown with dark brown bands.  The abdomen of the male is smaller than that of the female.

This species of spider has a very distinctive orb-web (see photo) which always looks as if there is a triangular section missing (hence the name).  Running through the middle of the missing sector is a single line of silk which leads to the spiders retreat.

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