Subject: Spanish Spider
Location: Almeria, Spain
May 14, 2014 6:05 am
Hi there,
I found this lovely spider wandering slowly across one of the banks in my garden in South East Spain.
I was hoping you might give me it’s exact identification and if it was one you could safely pick up?
On this occasion I allowed it to quietly go on it’s way.
So, April, Almeria, Spain. 25°c. Midday. Measured about 50mm in span.
Signature: Jon C.
Female Ladybird Spider
Dear Jon,
We are thrilled to receive and post your images of an endangered female Ladybird Spider, Eresus sandaliatus, a species and genus that is threatened across most of its European range. This species exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism, and the male Ladybird Spider looks like an entirely different species with his red coloration and black spots, markings that resemble those of a Ladybird Beetle. More images can be found on ARkive.
Female Ladybird Spider
Female Ladybird Spider
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I live in the Almanzora Valley near Cantoria, Almeria.
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