Spider ID please: red all over with white spots

Aibika · #1 (**permalink**) 19-09-2010, 01:23 PM

Hello,
I've just joined because I have just returned from a rainy walk where I found a red spider the likes of which I've never seen before. It is red all over, including the legs, and has three or four white spots in a line down the middle of its back. Once I've worked out how to get photos off my phone and into a message, then I'll do that! It was on a leaf by the roadside on a very quiet road miles from any buildings in the central Highlands in Scotland.
Any ideas? I couldn't find anything like it on the internet. Thank you.

Meta menardi · #2 (**permalink**) 19-09-2010, 01:29 PM

A possible fit could be Araneus alsine.

The Woodman · #3 (**permalink**) 19-09-2010, 01:36 PM

Or Arianus diadematus/quadratus?

Meta menardi · #4 (**permalink**) 19-09-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Or Arianus diadematus/quadratus?

I was feeling adventurous.

I Love Nature · #5 (**permalink**) 19-09-2010, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Or Arianus diadematus/quadratus?

It couldn't be Araenus diadematus because those are really common and are brownish with striped legs, Araenus diadematus is the garden spider just in case you made a mistake with the latin name. I did that once accidentally.

The Woodman · #6 (**permalink**) 19-09-2010, 05:10 PM

I'm always making mistakes! It's been a strange sort of Sunday for duff ID's. Constant rain has prevented me from doing what I wanted and the news of a red spider in the central Highlands brought me out in a rash of misidentifications.

I'm trying to get into spiders and running before I can walk.

I Love Nature · #7 (**permalink**) 19-09-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I'm always making mistakes! It's been a strange sort of Sunday for duff ID's. Constant rain has prevented me from doing what I wanted and the news of a red spider in the central Highlands brought me out in a rash of misidentifications.

I'm trying to get into spiders and running before I can walk.

I don't blame you. I'm pretty new here. I've recently got into spiders too and this site has taught me loads. My most embarrasing was thinking that a harvestman was a garden spider but that was them I just started to get into spiders. I've recently started to like ladybirds. What do you think about them?

Aibika · #8 (**permalink**) 20-09-2010, 12:09 PM

Thanks for the responses! I looked up the things you all suggested. It's definitely not the araneus alsine. The one I saw had three distinct big white spots in a straight line, rather than lots of little spots all over. And I don't think it's the diadematus: again the white spots are very distinct and with no other markings anywhere. The colour of the spider I saw is redder than all the images I've seen of the alsine or the diadematus. Bright red, though I understand that there can be huge colour variation in any one species depending on habitat, gender, etc etc. I've got the photos off my phone - just need to get them uploaded! I'll try tonight when I'm at home. They'll probably help though they're not great photos I'm afraid. I'm going to have to go back to the place I saw it and wait there with a better camera!
More to follow.....

serendipity · #9 (**permalink**) 20-09-2010, 08:31 PM

How about a variant of enoplognatha ovata! though i dont think i have seen one with red legs!

Aibika · #10 (**permalink**) 22-09-2010, 11:08 AM

At last here's a (very poor) photo but at least you can see the redness of it and the distinct white spots. It's about 1.5 cm long not including the legs! Hope I attached the photo properly: