LONG LEGS FOR SAFETY

The cobweb spider isn't keen on cold weather, so it frequents the roofs of caves and the ceilings of cellars, garages and rooms in your house.  Well maybe not in your house but certainly in mine.  

They weave a muddly web often in the top corner of a room and wait.  Sometimes they get fed up and descend to the floor in search of something tasty.  But it's dangerous.  This one on my kitchen floor has only six legs instead of the usual eight.  Clearly some rough encounters have occurred.

They will eat any insects or other arthropods including other spiders.  They get up high on their long legs to avoid getting bitten until the prey is safely trussed up in silk.   Then they can insert their fangs and suck the victim dry.  😮😮 

I was surprised to learn that they even catch, kill and eat the rather more robust looking house spiders (Tegenaria) that run across winter carpets.