Thomisidae

Xysticus cristatus is common in many different habitats and frequently found. Other species are less common or have a narrower range of habitats and, so, are found less often.

Click on any image below to show an enlarged version.

Diaea dorsata
	I find this spider most commonly in oak trees, but occasionally on other trees such as yew.

Xysticus cristatus
		This is a very common spider found usually at ground level in a range of habitats - gardens, woodland, meadowland etc. Occasionally it can be found in flowerheads waiting for prey.
female	male

Xysticus audax
		I have only come across this species in gorse, several feet above ground level. The wedge shaped marking on the cephalothorax is shorter than in X. cristatus.

Xysticus lanio
	The spider in the photo was found on the lower branches of an oak tree (and put on the ground temporarily to be photographed). After taking it home to examine the epigyne under the microscope, it was released on another oak tree in similar habitat. The sides of the abdomen are rather reddish.

Xysticus ulmi
		X. ulmi is found in wet habitats. The spider in the left photo was found in the head of a Phragmites reed, and the one with the egg sac on a dead sedge head, both in fenland. The species is usually rather light in colour, and the markings look sharp and clean cut.

Ozyptila trux
	Fairly common. The spider in the photograph was found in leaf litter below trees on a nature reserve.

Ozyptila brevipes
	Quite common in wet places such as fen or marshland. It's easy to find in reed litter at ground level, but I've also found it in sedge tussocks.