A tube web spider. The first three pairs of legs on this spider face forward. These spiders make a tube shaped web in old walls. At the opening of the tube, six or more lines of silk radiate out in all directions and the spider sits with six of its legs touching the lines of silk. If an insect crosses one of these lines the spider will rush out of the tube, catch the insect and rush back into the tube web where it eats the insect in safety.
This spider is active at night and can be seen at the entrance of its tube web. This spider has green iridescent jaws that reflect the light of a torch if you shine on into a tube web. This species is usually black with some lighter markings on the abdomen.
The female lays eggs in her tube web and will stay until the young have hatched and dispersed. Sometimes the female will die and her young will eat her.
This spider is widespread in Europe except for the North. It is found in southern Britain, mainly around ports.
Above: A male, out of his tube web.
Above: The entrance to a tube web showing the radiating trip lines.
All the pictures above were taken while I was on holiday in France.
Above: this tube web picture was taken in Bristol, a port on the south west coast of England.
Above: another picture taken in Bristol. These spiders have become quite well established there.
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