Araniella cucurbitina (Clerck, 1757)

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Description of Araniella cucurbitina (Cucumberspider)

Physical Characteristics

Strongly resembles Araniella alpica.

Female 4.5 to 9.5 mm.
Abdomen yellow-green to green with two rows of four or five black dots and a bright red spot above the spinnerets.
Carapace orange-brown.
Legs orange-brown with black spines and downwards several black annulations.
Palps orange-brown with black spines.

Male 3.5 to 4.5 mm.
Markings and colours almost identical to the female. Carapace with two black borders. Femora I, II and VI sometimes partially coloured red.

Habitat

Trees, shrubs and plants.

Distribution

Common in the whole of Europe.

Period

Spring and summer.