Walnut Orb Weaver Spider - Nuctenea umbratica

    Nuctenea umbratica
    Family - Araneidae
    Genus - Nuctenea 
    These Spiders have a flat appearance, they live under bark
    and in narrow crevices, on fence-posts, gates and road signs.
    I've also found them in abundance on the Chalk Cliffs at Cuckmere Haven.
    They spin an Orb Web at dusk to catch Moths and other night flying insects.

    Female with Egg Sac beneath the bark of a tree
    Extra Mural Cemetery
    Brighton
    09.12.2011

    Woods Mill Nature Reserve
    Henfield
    East Sussex
    18.04.2011

    Living on the Chalk Cliffs
    Cuckmere Haven
    25.05.2011

    Freshly molted Male
    Living in the Pond house.
    First one I've seen at Stanmer
    Stanmer Organics
    Stanmer Park
    East Sussex
    01.08.2011

    Molting in the rain on a fence-post around a Horse field
    Jevington
    East Sussex
    04.09.2011    

    First time I've ever seen one at the Cemetery
    Extra Mural Cemetery
    Brighton
    03.10.2011

    Cuckmere Haven
    29.03.2011
    ::::::::
    Said to be a nocturnal spider but these were out in full sunshine,
    living on chalk cliffs at Cuckmere Haven, East Sussex

   Biggest one I've ever seen!

    Cuckmere Haven
    17.02.2011

    14/10/2010

    Crane flies on the menu

 

    Shrimps too!

    30/09/2010

    I originally found these Spiders in July 2010 on the Seven

    Sisters cliffs  at Cuckmere haven.

    Thanks to Gary Bradley of uksafari.com for helping me identify these spiders.