Garden Orb Spider (Araneus diadematus)

Garden Orb Spider (Araneus diademata), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

Such a common spider, this beauty makes the familiar orb webs. I've photographed so many of them before but somehow I've never noticed that the distinctive identifying 'white cross' patterning is actually made from coloured fur! It is amazingly beautiful. So spiders are cute furry animals too.

Green Orb Spider (Araniella curcurbitina) Female

Green Orb Spider (Araniella curcurbitina), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

One of the more colourful and distinctive spiders found native in the UK. A gorgeous lime green abdomen with yellow/green body and legs, and a red patch around the spinnerets. They are pretty small and well camouflaged on leaves.

False Widow Spider (Steodata grossa)

False Widow Spider (Steodata grossa), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

These spiders are large, shiny and long legged, and can look a lot like dark brown versions of the famous Black Widow. They look a bit intimidating and they can bite people (I gather its no worse than a bee sting), but only the very biggest can pierce skin and even then you'd really have to annoy it. They like living in sheltered outdoor places, such as behind stacks of old pots which is where most of mine seem to be.

Jumping Spider (Heliophanus flavipes)

Jumping Spider (Heliophanus flavipes), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

I admit it, I have a massive soft spot for jumping spiders. They are tiny hunting spiders, so they don't spin webs but instead have huge forward facing eyes for spotting prey, judging distance and leaping onto it. They are staggeringly feisty - you get near one and rather than running away, they typically turn round and rear up at you threateningly, waving their front legs around. This species is almost entirely black, with paler legs and almost day-glo pale greeny/yellow palps which make it easy to spot and identify.

Zebra Spider (Salticus scenicus) Male

Zebra Spider (Salticus scenicus) Male, originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

I love Zebra Spiders. They are officially my favourite spider. Small, black/brown-and-white, furry and feisty, they are always patrolling the edges of my plant pots and my outdoor table looking for prey. They don't spin webs but rather use their huge eyes to hunt for and pounce on prey, often much bigger than themselves. The huge jaws on this one show this is a male. They are primarily used for 'jousting' and sparring with rival males.

Crab Spider (Xysticus cristatus)

Crab Spider (Xysticus cristatus), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

Crab spiders are so named because they often walk a bit like crabs, sort of sideways, and look a bit like crabs when in their hunting pose. They don't spin webs, choosing instead to sit on flower heads or leaves with their front legs outstretched, waiting for prey to land. When something does, the legs try to grab it as the spider leaps forward, fangs ready. They are usually well camouflaged in browns or greens and can be hard to see, even larger species. As hunters these spiders need good eyesight so have large eyes on the front of the head for the kill, with small eyes around the head to see the prey coming.

House Spider (Tegenaria) Female

House Spider (Tegenaria) Female, originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

These are the archetypical UK house spider - brown, large, and long legged with a fast skuttling gait that many find frightening. This one was hiding in my old shed when it was being demolished, so I took the opportunity to carry it into the light and get some photos. This silhouette shows off the shape and structure of the animal beautifully, and all that fur.

Garden Orb Spider (Araneus diadematus)

Garden Orb Spider (Araneus diadematus), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

The stuff of nightmares for some, I find this photograph beautiful. You can see close up the amazing architectural structure of the spider, and I especially like the ball joints in the legs. This extremely common spider can reach a body size of 16mm or more. The colouring varies from dark brown to oranges, but there is always a pale cross-shaped mark on the abdomen. It spins the traditional circular web and is usually seen sat in the centre awaiting prey. The eight eyes are arranged as a central group of four, with two pairs further round each side of the head.