# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/2670b32a-e77d-485c-ba3f-caff0bd92ed7
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/121779
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agalenatea redii
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/76294699/medium.jpg (Tone Killick, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.