The beautiful ladybird spider of the velvet spider family is found in the northern and central parts of Europe. The coloration of the male spiders mimics the ladybird’s appearance, resulting in its name.
Size: Females are 0.39-0.62 inches (0.99-1.5 cm) and males are 0.23-0.35 inches (0.58-0.88 cm) long.
Color: The females have a jet black body. On the other hand, the males appear orange-black, with four prominent and two small black spots. They even have black and white bands on their legs.
Other Characteristic Features: There is no white hair on the abdomen, neither any red ones on the leg.
Female ladybird spiders lay 35-40 eggs, wrapping them carefully in silk.
After emerging from the eggs, hatchlings are fed on a special liquid provided by their mother. Interestingly, the female spider lets herself die by digesting her body parts. Then the spiderlings suck on the body to keep themselves well-fed. Male spiderlings develop into adults when they are three, while the females could take a year longer.
They make messy webs, sometimes even decorating them with the insect’s bodies that they prey upon.
They may bite when threatened, which, however, is not known to cause serious effects.
| Distribution | Northern Italy, Southern Norway, and England |
| Habitat | South-facing slopes that are sheltered |
| Diet | Insects |
| Web-type | Messy and no particular pattern followed |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not Listed |
Image Credits: Thekidshouldseethis.com, I.pinimg.com, Spiderzrule.com, Ourbreathingplanet.com, Community.rspb.org.uk
The beautiful ladybird spider of the velvet spider family is found in the northern and central parts of Europe. The coloration of the male spiders mimics the ladybird’s appearance, resulting in its name.
Size: Females are 0.39-0.62 inches (0.99-1.5 cm) and males are 0.23-0.35 inches (0.58-0.88 cm) long.
Color: The females have a jet black body. On the other hand, the males appear orange-black, with four prominent and two small black spots. They even have black and white bands on their legs.
Other Characteristic Features: There is no white hair on the abdomen, neither any red ones on the leg.
Female ladybird spiders lay 35-40 eggs, wrapping them carefully in silk.
After emerging from the eggs, hatchlings are fed on a special liquid provided by their mother. Interestingly, the female spider lets herself die by digesting her body parts. Then the spiderlings suck on the body to keep themselves well-fed. Male spiderlings develop into adults when they are three, while the females could take a year longer.
They make messy webs, sometimes even decorating them with the insect’s bodies that they prey upon.
They may bite when threatened, which, however, is not known to cause serious effects.
| Distribution | Northern Italy, Southern Norway, and England |
| Habitat | South-facing slopes that are sheltered |
| Diet | Insects |
| Web-type | Messy and no particular pattern followed |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not Listed |
Image Credits: Thekidshouldseethis.com, I.pinimg.com, Spiderzrule.com, Ourbreathingplanet.com, Community.rspb.org.uk
