Best time to see: May to Sep
Key facts
A spider that gets its name from its habit of stretching its legs out straight along a leaf for concealment
Usually found on plants low down over water, where it catches even sizeable insects such as damselflies
Widespread throughout Britain and across the northern hemisphere
Recognition
An elongated spider with a narrow body – up to 11mm in females, 9mm males – and long legs
Abdomen very variable in colour, from cream to green with dark lines
Lifecycle
Male and female lock jaws in a brief courtship, possibly to prevent the female from making a meal of her mate
Egg sacs resemble a bird dropping and are pressed against a plant stem
The young over-winter as spiderlings
© Tony Gunton