MEADOW SPIDER (Pardosa saltans) female with egg sack Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Meadow Spider (Pardosa saltans) or Meadow Wolf Spider is of the family Lycosidae which is in the genus Pardosa. This is a small dark species but there are a number of similar wolf spiders so it can only be identified with 100% certainty by microscopic examination.

"Requires examination at high magnification in good lighting, typically examination of the genitalia." Bee, L., Oxford, G., & Smith, H. (2020). Britain's Spiders: A Field Guide. Second Edition. Princeton University Press.

COMMON GARDEN SPIDER (Araneus diadematus) [female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) or Cross Spider is of the family Araneidae which is in the genus Araneus. This widespread large orb-weaver spider occurs in Europe as well as North America. There are a number of colour variations and the pale distinctive cruciform markings on its back clearly identifies it.

 

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SAND BEAR WOLF SPIDER (Pardosa amentata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Sand Bear Wolf Spider (Pardosa amentata) or Sand Bear Spider is of the family Lycosidae which is in the genus Pardosa.

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [female with prey] on MEADOW BUTTERCUP WILDFLOWER (Ranunculus acris) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Click here for detailed Meadow Buttercup Wildflower information

 
The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena.

The Meadow Buttercup Wildflower (Ranunculus acris) is of the family Ranunculaceae which is in the genus Ranunculus.

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [female] on DEVIL'S BIT SCABIOUS WILDFLOWER (Succisa pratensis) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Click here for detailed Devil's-bit Scabious Wildflower information

 
The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena.

The Devil's-bit Scabious Wildflower (Succisa pratensis) is of the family Caprifoliaceae which is in the genus Succisa.

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [male] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and North America where it is known as Goldenrod Crab Spider or more simply Flower Spider. 

Only the female can change colour normally either from white to yellow or visa versa but this can be a protracted process. The minute black and white male can be a real challenge to locate.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [Female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and North America where it is known as Goldenrod Crab Spider or more simply Flower Spider. 

Only the female can change colour normally either from white to yellow or visa versa but this can be a protracted process. The minute black and white male can be a real challenge to locate.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

LESSER GARDEN SPIDER (Metellina segmentata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Lesser Garden Spider (Metellina segmentata) is of the family Tetragnathidae which is in the genus Metellina.This is a common late summer and autumn species of orb spider. Seperate with care from the extremely similiar Summer Orbweaver (Metellina mengei) which tends to occure earlier in the season but they can overlap. 

 On female Lesser Garden Spider the black strip beneath the abdomen ends at the epigyne. On Summer Orbweaver the black stripe is more extensive and the male has long hairs on the underside of the fore tarsi. Examination by microscope is the only 100% reliable means of 

identification of these two species.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / RAW birds

 

RAFT SPIDER (Dolomedes fimbriatus) [Female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is a semi-aquatic member of the family Pisauridaeone which is in the genus Dolomedes. It is one of Ireland’s largest spiders. Also known as the Hunting Spider or the Jesus Christ spider for its ability to walk on water. It occurs in sphagnum bogs. Main prey items include aquatic and terrestrial insects, invertebrates as well as tadpoles

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COMMON STRETCH SPIDER (Tetragnatha extensa) with dismembered AZURE DAMSELFLY (Coenagrion puella) prey Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Stretch Spider (Tetragnatha extensa) is a member of the Long-jawed orb weaver spider family Tetragnathidae which is in the genus Tetragnatha.

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [Female with Blow-fly prey] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and North America where it is known as Goldenrod Crab Spider or more simply Flower Spider.  

Only the female can change colour normally either from white to yellow or visa versa but this can be a protracted process. The minute black and white male can be a real challenge to locate.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

RAFT SPIDER (Dolomedes fimbriatus) [Juvenile] Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is a semi-aquatic member of the family Pisauridaeone which is in the genus Dolomedes. It is one of Ireland’s largest spiders. Also known as the Hunting Spider or the Jesus Christ spider for its ability to walk on water. It occurs in sphagnum bogs. Main prey items include aquatic and terrestrial  insects, invertebrates as well as tadpoles

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) female with bumblebee prey Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and North America where it is known as Goldenrod Crab Spider or more simply Flower Spider.  

Only the female can change colour normally either from white to yellow or visa versa but this can be a protracted process. The minute black and white male can be a real challenge to locate.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

CRAB SPIDER [Female] (Misumena vatia) with prey Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in genus Misumena. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and North America where it is known as the Goldenrod Crab Spider or more simply the Flower Spider. Only the female can change colour normally either from white to yellow or visa versa but this can be a protracted process. The minute black and white male can be a real challenge to locate.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

RAFT SPIDER (Dolomedes fimbriatus) Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Click here for detailed species information

The Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is a semi-aquatic member of the family Pisauridaeone which is in the genus Dolomedes. It is one of Ireland’s largest spiders. Also known as the Hunting Spider or the Jesus Christ spider for its ability to walk on water. It occurs in sphagnum bogs. Main prey items include aquatic and terrestrial  insects, invertebrates as well as tadpoles which it detects using its forelegs to sense any vibrations on the water surface. If threatened, it can submerge itself under water for up to 60 minutes.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

RED BELLIED JUMPING SPIDER (Philaeus chrysops) Skala Kallonis, Lesvos Island, Greece

 

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The Red Bellied Jumping Spider (Philaeus chrysops) is a spider of the family Salticidae which is in the genus Philaeus. It occurs in the warmer parts of the Palearctic, from Portugal in the west to China in the east. This conspicuous species with its striking black and red colouration can grow up to 12mm in length and is commonly encountered in warm open type habitat. A wide variety of small invertebrates are preyed upon. On Lesvos, it can be seen from late March until early autumn.

RAFT SPIDER (Dolomedes fimbriatus) Girley Bog, Drewstown Woods, County Meath, Ireland

 

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The Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is a semi-aquatic member of the family Pisauridaeone which is in the genus Dolomedes. It is one of Ireland’s largest spiders. Also known as the Hunting Spider or the Jesus Christ spider for its ability to walk on water. It occurs in sphagnum bogs. Main prey items include aquatic and terrestrial  insects, invertebrates as well as tadpoles which it detects using its forelegs to sense any vibrations on the water surface. If threatened, it can submerge itself under water for up to 60 minutes.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds