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Description of Mangora acalypha (Lined orb weaver)
Physical Characteristics
Colour highly variable.
Female 5 to 6 mm.
Abdomen whitish with green, yellow, orange or red spots and stripes. Often marbled. Oblique black stripes along the sides and posteriorly a distinctive rectangular black pattern with some white dots which is connected to the front with a thin black stripe.
Carapace yellow brown with a thin black stripe in the middle and a thin black band along the edge.
Legs and palps yellow-brown with black spines.
Female 3 to 3.5 mm.
Markings and colours almost identical to the female.
Habitat
Sunny, dry areas in low vegetation such as heather.
Distribution
Common in the whole of Europe.
Period
Spring and summer.