For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
Snake-back Spiders
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Scientific name: Segestria senoculata
Size: Head and body 7mm to 10mm long
Distribution: Found throughout the UK
Months seen: All year, but most noticable from March to November
Habitat: On walls, under bark and sometimes between rocks
Food: Flies and other small insects
Special features: Snake-back Spiders get their name from the row of dark coloured patches on their elongated abdomens which resemble the markings on some poisonous snakes, such as the adder. Another common name is Leopard Spider, for the same reason.
In some specimens these markings are not so obvious as the abdomen can be dark all over, and the patches blur together into a long central stripe.
These spiders have six eyes which are grouped closely together. The legs are always arranged with six legs pointing forwards and the back pair pointing rearwards.
Snake-back spiders frequently make their webs in holes in walls. Around the edge of the hole they leave trip wires radiating out from the hole. The spider then sits inside the hole with its front legs just visible at the entrance. When an insect touches the trip wires the spider rushes out and catches it.
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