The female of this species grows to betweeen 10 - 15
mm with the male being about 7 - 9 mm. The purseweb spider builds a
silken tube in the ground, closed at both ends, only the top part of
the tube protrudes from the ground. When an insect lands on the tube
it is stabbed through the mesh by the spider and taken down into the
vertical section to be eaten, once the trap has been repaired.
These spiders are recorded throughout the
British Isles, but very local in northern England. Most common in southern
counties where colonies are found.
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