Lace Web Spider also Lace-webbed/Lace Weaver
Amaurobius similis
The Lace Web Spider, also called Laced-web and occasionally Lace Weaver, is named after its style of web,
common on walls and fences.
About 12mm long (females; males are 8mm), it is common in the UK and Europe through the summer and autumn,
usually around houses and gardens. It can give a painful bite (not usually harmful to humans).
Lace Web Spider with Queen Ant
Lace Web Spider with Green Leaf Weevil
Lace Web Spider with Green Leaf Weevil
The spiders above are hauling prey their own size up a vertical house wall.
A. fenestralis looks very similar but is usually found in woodland. A. ferox, the Black Lace Web, is darker with a less-distinct pattern but is also around houses; it is 50% bigger.
A. fenestralis looks very similar but is usually found in woodland. A. ferox, the Black Lace Web, is darker with a less-distinct pattern but is also around houses; it is 50% bigger.