Nuctenea umbratica
Columns spider ( Nuctenea umbratica )
The columns spider ( Nuctenea umbratica ) is a family of Real orb-weaving spiders ( Araneidae ) belonging Spiders.
Features
Columns spiders are about as large as the well-known garden spider, males have a body length of 7-10 mm, females are 13 to 16 millimeters long. The hairy front body ( prosoma ) is dark brown and lightened reddish brown in the front.
The rear body ( opisthosoma ) is, in contrast to most other Central European representatives of the family, strongly flattened dorsoventrally. On top of relatively very large, paired depressions are visible, will underpin muscles inside the body with which the spider can flatten the back of the body even further. The ground color varies from red-brown to black-brown with a dark, yellowish to greenish yellow framed, leaf -shaped drawing. The legs are almost uniformly dark brown, the outer leg members are definitely light brown / dark brown curled.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution of the columns spider is largely confined to the Western Palearctic. It covers the whole of Europe and western Asia to Azerbaijan, also North Africa. Further, isolated occurrences there are in Central and Southeast Asia. The species is primarily an inhabitant of lights deciduous and mixed forests.
Way of life
The cycle network is being built at mid-height, especially of old trees, but also of wood shed and house walls. It is equipped with 45 to 70 centimeters in diameter quite large, the radii distances are relatively large. The hub is eccentric and usually much towards hiding the spider moved. During the day it hides under loose bark or in bark columns on buildings in wall cracks. After dark, she sits in the center of the network. Sexually mature animals can be observed especially from July to October. At least the females overwinter under bark and similar structures.
Endangering
The species is widespread and common in suitable habitats. It is classified as " safely " in Germany in the Red List.