Enoplognatha ovata, Comb-footed Spider

Common Name: Comb-footed Spider

Enoplognatha ovata is a species of spider belonging to the family Theridiidae and is widespread throughout the UK. It can reach a length of 6 mm (excluding legs), has translucent legs and the globular abdomen is extremely variable in colour and pattern: the background colour is white, cream or green and can be marked with a row of dark spots, a broad red stripe or with two red stripes in a v-shape.

Despite its small size, this is a formidable predator which can prey on insects many times its size. It is a species typical of open habitats containing low broad-leaved vegetation, e.g. road verges, domestic gardens and woodland glades.

After mating, males die and females establish themselves in rolled leaves to produce and guard their (usually) single bluish egg-sac. Once the young emerge from the rolled leaf in September, the female wanders off to die, and the young descend to grass-roots level to over-winter.

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