INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The Lady Bird Spider used to have the name of Eresus niger but nowadays it is called Eresus cinnaberinus. It is a member of the Erisidae family. This spider is very rare and is protected in some countries. The name "Lady Bird" comes from the appearance of the adult male seen in this picture. He only gets this colouring at his last change of skin. |
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HABITATThe Lady Bird Spider makes a single tube of silk on the ground and lays her eggs in a cocoon. In the day time, she brings out the cocoon to let it get warm and returns it to the tube at night. When the spiders hatch, they stay in the tube all through the Winter. During this time, they can change their skin up to six times. In the Spring, the young spiders eat their mother after she dies. |