Buzzing Spider

The Buzzing Spider is a medium-sized hunting spider, usually 4 to 9 millimetres long. It has a pale V-shaped marking running down its long body. Its head area is orange-brown, and the legs are fairly long and plain. This spider gets its common name from the male's mating behaviour. The male shakes its body against leaves to make a buzzing noise that can be heard. The Buzzing Spider is found all over Britain and Ireland. It is most often seen from late spring to autumn in woods with trees that lose their leaves, especially oak trees. Unlike many spiders, it does not spin webs to catch food. Instead, it hunts actively among leaves at night. During the day, it rests inside a silken shelter it makes between leaves. This spider is easy to tell apart from other similar species because it is larger and has a clearer pattern on its body.