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Photo: G. Bradley |
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UK
Safari Tip:
A great way to get a close up view inside a spider's lair is with a
Spiderdome - click here
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Latin name: Xysticus cristatus
Size: The female grows to a length of around 8mms. The male is a little smaller growing to around 5mms.
Distribution: Common throughout the UK.
Months seen: March to August
Habitat: Low growing vegetation. Often on the ground.
Food: Insects.
Special features: As the name suggests, they sometimes move in a crab-like way, from side to side.
They hunt their prey by jumping on unsuspecting victims. The one above has
managed to catch a rather large insect. Although the insect is as big as her,
the spider has managed to sink her fangs into the back of the insects neck and
has injected it with her paralysing poison.
The male has an unusual method of mating with the female. First he grabs hold of one of her legs, and waits until she stops struggling. He then ties her down to the ground with threads of silk. Finally he crawls underneath her to
mate.
UK Safari Spider Section
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