Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2150764
European Nursery Web spider
Pisaura mirabilisAlso known as Nursery Web Spider, Bridal Gift Spider, Predatory Spider, Cunning Spider
European nursery web spiders are active daytime hunters that stalk low vegetation without constructing capture webs. Males are famous for courting females with nuptial gifts of silk-wrapped insects to reduce the risk of being cannibalized during mating. Females carry their spherical egg sacs under their chelicerae until building a tent-like silk nursery high in the grass, where they fiercely guard their newly hatched spiderlings.
HunterNursery WebDiurnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flies
- Crickets
- Caterpillars
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Lizards
- Spider-hunting wasps
ThreatsHabitat loss, intensive agricultural mowing, and pesticide use
HabitatsGrasslands, scrublands, hedgerows, wet meadows, and gardens
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyPisauridae
- GenusPisaura
- SpeciesPisaura mirabilis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting webs: Look for domed silk tents built on tall grass stems during midsummer.
- Observing courtship: Watch for males carrying distinctive white silk gifts near potential mates.
- Gentle approach: Avoid sudden shadows or vibrations on stems to keep from startling them.
Competitor (c) Radu Teodoreanu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Radu Teodoreanu · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Анатолий Озерной /Anatoliy Ozernoy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Анатолий Озерной /Anatoliy Ozernoy · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Jordon-Jack Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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