The labyrinth spider is a spider of the open heaths where its makes its distinctive 'nest' on heathers and gorse, usually low down near the ground.
The centre of the web is a funnel in which the spider waits. Around the entrance are lots of single strands, a bit like trip wires, that stop insects from an easy escape and gradually bring them nearer to the central funnel from where Agelena can strike!
I have heard people refer to these as funnel web spiders which, of course they are not. Funnel web spiders are not native to our islands and are renowned for being very poisonous where as this spider is quite harmless (to humans).
The are extremely nervous creatures and quickly retreat in to their funnels which makes photographing them very difficult.
Here you can see very interesting photo of Labyrinth Spider in his funnel.
ReplyDeletehttp://1x.com/photos/member/54090/35318/
im very nervous as i live in new zealand and have found a black one it strikes a marvelous reasembelance to the labryinth spider.....is it harmless to us? he lives outside my kitchen window. Message me on kween-kas@hotmail.co.nz if u would like to see pix
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