Nuctenea silvicultrix (C. L. Koch, 1835)

Occurence: Nuctenea silvicultrix can be found on peat-bogs. It prefers dead conifers with peeling bark, often covered in lichen. We can find it also on old birches. On certain locations there are more of these spiders. Description: This orb weaver has a flattened abdomen with sharp edging around folium. The edge of the abdomen (around folium) is white. Legs are black with light circle-markings. An adult female can grow to about 9 mm of lenght, although males have about 8 mm. Period of occurence: These spiders can be found through the year, except winter. Web: The web is not too big, and it is not too strong either. This species usually hides under the bark of trees. However, sometimes we can find them just sitting on a branch, perfectly camouflaged thanks to their marking, which is reminding potencial predators of lichen. These spiders usually respond later to vibrations in their web. Signal thread is going to spider's nest – under the bark, and it is not significant. During the day we don't find these spiders sitting on their web. Food: Their usual prey is small flying insects.

Video here


photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Václav Kroc



photo: Václav Kroc



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Petr Beneš



photo: Václav Kroc



photo: Václav Kroc



photo: Václav Kroc



photo: Václav Kroc




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