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Description of Araniella alpica
Physical Characteristics
Strongly resembles the Cucumber spider (Araniella cucurbitina).
Female 6 to 8 mm.
yellow-green to green with two rows of one or two black dots and a bright red spot above the spinnerets. The black dots may also be missing. Ventrally a characteristic pattern of four yellow dots in a dark field.
Carapace orange-brown.
Legs orange-brown with black spines and some black annulations.
Palps orange-brown with black spines.
Male 4.5 to 5.5 mm.
Markings and colours almost identical to the female. The markings on the abdomen sometimes have more contrast.
Habitat
Mainly conifers and other needle-leaved trees. Up to 2,000 m.
Distribution
Common in the whole of Europe. More common in mountain areas.
Period
Summer.