Amaurobiidae (Hackledmesh Weavers)

The Amaurobiidae are medium-sized spiders that mainly live in holes in the wall, under bark or under rocks. There they build a coarse funnelweb that, if it is still fresh, has a bluish shine. The web is therefore quite easy to recognize. The spiders are mainly active at night. In Europe, a total of 40 species occur, almost all within the genus Amaurobius.


Genus Amaurobius

The development to adult spider takes about two years within this genus, in some species it may even take three years. Mating takes place in spring, when the male announces himself by drumming with his palps on the strands of the web. After mating, the female closes her retreat and reformes it to an eggshaped breeding nest, where she makes her egg sac in June/July. From July, a week after the young spiders have hatched, the female dies and serves as a first meal for her young.


Genus Callobius

These large spiders (sometimes up to 30 mm) can be found mainly in North America and Asia. Only one species occurs in Europe, and it is widepread. Just like the other Amaurobiidae they build a carded funnelweb, in which they hide during the day. A typical aspect of the genus is that they have three distinct points on the tibial apophysis of the male palp.