'Nursery Web Spider'

Pisaura mirabilis on a branch of a pine tree. This species does not make webs to hunt for prey. It hunts in vegetation and on the ground. It has a strong venom which kills flies, grasshoppers, moths, bees and other spiders. Pisaura mirabilis mate in June. This photo shows the female with her egg sac. Just before the young emerge from the egg sac the mother weaves a dome-shaped web (a spherical nest) in which she guards the young. The young look like her miniatures. This spider can easily be recognized by the light-yellow line on top of its head and the typical light flaps beside her eyes. The color of Pisaura mirabilis varies between gray and brown. Its size is between 10 - 15 mm. The Low Beskid - July 29, 2007