Cucumber Green Spider* (Araniella opisthographa)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Name Etymology: Araniella (?) opisthographa ("writing on the back")

Adult Cucumber Green Spider* (Araniella opisthographa) at Geddington, Northants - June 2016

* This name is shared by several very similar species.

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 6mm  /  Weight: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

As with many of the smaller invertibrates, this identification is somewhat tentative - there are two very similar species that can only be identifified at a very close level but opisthographa is more common near to me than cucurbitina.  Both species are notable for their distinctive green abdomen.

Related Species:
ORDER: Araneae
FAMILY: Araneidae
GENUS: Araniella
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident.

 - Seen at Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Batik Golden Web Spider (Nephila antipodiana)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Nephila ("fond of spinning") antipodiana ("Antipodean")

Adult Batik Golden Web Spiders (Nephila antipodiana) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 15cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A huge distinctive spider that was very numerous at Sungei Buloh.  It is very high sexual dimorphism as can be seen in this picture;  the tiny red male can be seen next to the much larger female.  It'll need to be careful, if it decides it wants to, the female may cannibalise the male.  Mildly poisonous to humans, it's bite can result in swelling.

Related Species:
Order: Araneae
Family: Nephilidae
Genus: Nephila
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A locally common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Many at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

European Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)

OTHER NAMES: Diadem Spider, Cross Spider, Crowned Orb Weaver

Latin Etymology: Araneus ("spider") diadematus ("wearing a diadem or crown")

Adult European Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus - unknwon subspecies) at Geddington, Northants - October 2010

Featured Subspecies: Unknown
Weight: ?  /  Length: 5.5-20mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The European Garden Spider is one of the most common and recognisable species of Spider in the UK, as its name suggests, often found in gardens.  Though the individual here doesn't show it that well, it is recognisable by the white cross on the brown background markings on its abdomen.  They can grow fairly large - up to 2cm long, but differ greatly between male and female.

Related Species:
Order: Araneae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Araneus
SUBSPECIES: A. d. islandicus, A. d. nemorosus, A. d. soror, A. d. stellatus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident

 - Seen at Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto  .

Candystripe Spider (Enoplognatha ovata)

OTHER NAMES: Comb-footed Spider

Latin Etymology: Enoplognatha ("armed jaw") ovata ("egg")

Adult Candystripe Spider (Enoplognatha ovata) at Geddington, Northants - July 2014

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 4.5-7mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A small but very distinctively coloured spider, the Candystripe spider is found through Europe and has also been introduced to North America.  While it's body only reaches 6mm long, it feeds on insects many times its size.  The colours on this individual were quite vivid yellow and magenta, but it is a variable species, which has a selection of other less colourful appearances as well.

Related Species:
Order: Araneae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Enoplognatha
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident

 - Seen at Geddington

Further Notes: BirdGuides, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto  .

Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pisaura (?) mirabilis ("wonderous")

Adult Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) at Geddington, Northants - May 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 10-15mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A common, adaptable species of spider found in tall vegetation such as grasses, woodland rides and field edges.   It is found between May and July, often perched fairly visibly out on leaves.  The Nursery Web Spider is also the name of the broader group that this species is from, which may be somewhat confusing - it gets it's name from the fact that the females carry around their eggs in a silk sack until they are nearly ready to hatch.

Related Species:
Order: Araneae
Family: Pisauridae
Genus: Pisaura
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident

 - Seen at Geddington among other locations.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Swamp Crab Spider (Xysticus ulmi)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Xysticus ("athlete") ulmi ("elms")

Adult female Swamp Crab Spider (Xysticus ulmi) at Geddington, Northants - May 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 3-8.3cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A fairly widely distributed species of spider, it seems to favour East Anglia within the UK, although it is widespread in Central and Western Europe. It favours damp habitats and is seen primarily in May and June.  It is sexually dimorphic, with the males being much darker brown in colour than the pictured female.

Related Species:
Order: Araneae
Family: Thomisidae
Genus: Xysticus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident of Southern and Eastern England - scarcer elsewhere,

 - Seen at Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .