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Mothercare Spider
Photo: G. Bradley |
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UK
Safari Tip:
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Latin name: Theridion sisyphium
Size: Size approximately 3mm to 4mm.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: Summer to Autumn.
Habitat: Hedgerows, and low growing vegetation. Often in gorse or
thistles
Food: Small flies and other insects.
Special features: The Mothercare spider has a very rounded abdomen
which has distinctive black and white markings on the back and some orange-brown
streaks on
the underside.
 The
Mothercare spider gets its name from its caring nature towards its young. The
blue-green egg sac (left) is guarded by the female. When the babies hatch, the
mother feeds them on regurgitated food. As they grow she shares larger food items with
them. As with other species she will die before the young leave the nest
and the young will eat her body.
The web is a series of criss-cross strands.
UK Safari Spider Section
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