Ladybird Spider Facts
- Firstly, the amazing Ladybird Spider remains a small but sincerely fascinating variety of arachnid. Also, like others in its genus, the species derives its common name from the coloring of the male.
- Most noteworthy remains the fact that most scientists thought the fascinating species to be extinct for nearly 70 years, in England. However, researchers rediscovered a few individuals there in 1980.
- But, it is currently (and sadly) only known to exist in widely scattered small concentrations throughout its endemic range. As a result, it has been protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act since 1981.
- Finally, efforts to repopulate the species have successfully managed to increase its numbers somewhat.
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Ladybird Spider Physical Description
Perhaps most notably, the Ladybird Spider displays sexual dimorphism in two separate ways. To begin with, the males attain a typical size of 0.35 in (9 mm). The females usually reach a far larger size, growing to as much as 0.63 in (16 mm) in size.
The females become less colorful, though, being almost universally a jet black in color. Yet the males (while smaller) develop far brighter coloring. They present a bright orange on their backs, with two large black spots displayed.
Further, the females almost always die shortly after reproducing, and in a quite grisly fashion. That holds true because the numerous tiny hatchlings proceed to feed on the body of the mother.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Family: Eresidae
- Genus: Eresus
- Species: E. sandaliatus
Ladybird Spider Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
First of all, the remarkable Ladybird Spider continues to be endemic to a restricted range across Europe. This range extends from England and southern Norway, all the way to northern Italy.
But, within that area, these spiders typically prefer a highly specialized habitat. It also seems to favor inhabiting areas of lowland heath. Most relevantly, within that habitat type, it favors south-facing slopes, with well-drained soil almost exclusively.
Consequently, it constructs its nests there, which consists of vertical burrows lined with silk, with a crown of spider silk. These it uses to catch the wide variety of insects they prey upon.
Species Sharing Its Range
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