Walnut orb-weaver spider, Nuctenea umbratica
Body size
Female to 15mm; male to 10mm.
Appearance
Plump, dark brown but rather flat-bodied. The slimmer-bodied male (photo) appears to bite more frequently than the female.
Habitat, range and season
Woods and gardens; old trees, fences and buildings. Hides during the day behind peeling bark or in cracks in woodwork. Europe, N Africa and S Asia. Adult males from June to October; females probably all year.
Web
A vertical orb with a line connecting to a retreat.
First recorded in the UK
1678.
Bite reports
'Felt like a puncture from a bramble thorn. Site of the bite slightly raised and white (no reddening). Pain gone after 6 hours.'
'Pain like an electric shock from finger to elbow with the arm going numb; recovered after a few hours.'
'Itchiness and hot feeling on arm, large red patch (2" x 4") became worse within hour, plus white lumps; horrible burning feeling - felt bruised for some days.'
