Enoplognatha ovata
Enoplognatha ovata | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Female | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
Family: | Theridiidae |
Genus: | Enoplognatha |
Species: | E. ovata
|
Binomial name | |
Enoplognatha ovata |
Enoplognatha ovata, the common candy-striped spider, is a species of spider belonging to the family Theridiidae.
It is native to Europe and has also been introduced to North America. It is notably found in Lithuania.[1]
This spider, reaching a length of 6 mm (excluding legs), has translucent legs and the globular abdomen is extremely variable in colour and pattern: the background colour is white, cream or green and can be marked with a row of dark spots, a broad red stripe or with two red stripes in a v-shape. Despite its small size, this is a formidable predator which can prey on insects many times its size. The female deposits its eggs in a white sac and after several days the sac gradually changes colour to a blue/grey. This is secreted within a rolled-up leaf fastened with silk and the female guards it until the eggs hatch.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Cobweb_Spider_-_Enoplognatha_ovata%2C_Nelson_Park%2C_Vancouver%2C_British_Columbia.jpg/220px-Cobweb_Spider_-_Enoplognatha_ovata%2C_Nelson_Park%2C_Vancouver%2C_British_Columbia.jpg)
References[]
- ^ The checklist of Lithuanian spiders (Arachnida: Araneae). Marija Biteniekytė and Vygandas Rėlys, Biologija, 2011, Vol. 57, No. 4, pages 148–158, doi:10.6001/biologija.v57i4.1926
- Preston-Mafham, Ken (1998). Spiders: Compact Study Guide and Identifier. Angus Books. ISBN 978-1-904594-93-2.
- Theridiidae
- Spiders of Europe
- Spiders described in 1757
- Taxa named by Carl Alexander Clerck
- Theridiidae stubs