Garden Hammock Spider

The Garden Hammock Spider, Linyphia hortensis, is one of the money spiders native to much of Europe (including UK) and some of Caucasian western Asian. It grows to some 4mm head/body length. The female has strong white markings on brown but the male is plainer brown. The common name relates to the webs built on low bushes.

(It is possible that this may be another money spider, Microlynphia pusilla/impigra, also prevalent in the UK, with white markings on brown and growing to some 5mm head/body length, spinning a similar low level sheet web.)

About 3-4mm long, it is dark brown with annulated legs and whitish markings on its abdomen. It builds small sheet webs to catch prey.