Squash Spider (Araniella cucurbitina) (1)

Squash Spider (Araniella cucurbitina) (1)

Squash spider, also named cucumber green orb spider, is an easily recognized orb weaver spider. It has a yellow-green abdomen with black dots. Adults also have a red spot under the abdomen. Females grow up to 8 mm, males only up to 5 mm. The legs are yellowish green or yellow-red-brown.

Adult squash spiders can be seen from April to October. They are mainly found on forest clearings, in woods, bushes, scrub and hedgerows and in low vegetation. This species occurs in the Palaearctic and is widespread in north-western and central Europe, in Turkey, and in Central Asia.

The image of the squash spider on my thumb tip was taken with a Canon 5D Mark III mounted with the macro photo lens MP E 65 mm.

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