Gorse Orbweaver
Agalenatea redii
Its hairy, rounded abdomen mimics the furry buds of gorse and heather, allowing it to hide in plain sight at the center of its web.
- Scientific name
- Agalenatea redii
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Arachnida › Araneae › Araneidae › Agalenatea
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Sunny heathlands, dry grasslands, gorse scrub, and coastal dunes.
- Diet
- Flying insects, including flies, small bees, wasps, and moths.
- Range
- Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia
- Size
- Females: 7-8 mm, Males: 4-5 mm
- Lifespan
- 1 year
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Loss of heathland habitats, agricultural intensification, and scrub clearance.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. Admire its intricate web from a safe distance. If handled, it may bite only if pinched; if bitten, wash the area with soap and water and monitor for rare allergic reactions.
Agalenatea redii is a species of 'orbweavers' belonging to the family Araneidae subfamily Araneinae. This species is present in most of Europe and in central Asia.
Photo: Tone Killick, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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