This green spider (Araniella cucurbitina) is seen from April to October and is around 4mm-6mm long. It is usually found hanging out on low growing bushes and hedgerows and eats flies and other small insects. They are native to the UK and, while they look mostly green all over, there is a small red spot above their web spinners on their tail.
(Please click on image to enlarge (if you dare))
Having never seen one of these before I just had to go back indoors to fetch the macro lens, though I wasn’t able to get very clear shots of the spider itself as the darn lens kept focusing on the leaf, even on manual focus!
Actually the leaf (Pineapple sage in case you were wondering) is also very interesting close up. Who knew that it had all those hairs on the edge and the tiny red raised ‘spots’.
I don’t like spiders, but this is a very tiny one and somehow when I have the camera in front of me I forget that I don’t like them as they simply become something fascinating to try and capture an image of. Having said that I am NOT going to get this close to the Giant House Spider (Eratigena Atrica) that live in my shed and cover everything with a thick sticky sheet web.
If only I could get spiders to eat the slugs and snails I’d be on to a winner!
Cornwall in Colours 
He’s a good guy, right? Then we’ll forgive him for being a spider. 🙂 🙂 And joy of joys- my zucchini plant is flowering! Pardon me- courgette, Jude.
He’s a tiny guy so we’ll let him live 🙂
I did get several flowers on my courgette plant last year, but never any fruit 😦
Just been out with the bug spray. Lots of tiny black guys on one of my flowers! Caramba! Watching Roger 🙂 🙂
Been weeding too whilst cloud cover and still. Now going to watch Mr Cool 🙂
This is amazing Jude! Green-and-red spider on green-and-red pineapple sage that’s adorned with tiny red micro-pearls… Love it!
Perfect colour combination!
Yes it is! 🙂
Well, I think you’ve done a great job!
Thank you Sue 🙂
Which lens? I never do macro – I only have extension tubes, and at any rate, my hands and balance are no longer up to the job!!
The 60mm macro lens. I haven’t used it in a while, but I wanted to get really close up to this little guy.
I know a couple of other people with that lens….they love it
Yes. it is lovely when steady. Unfortunately it is often windy here so I don’t get those really sharp shots. Even a tripod wouldn’t help with the wind 😦
Very true
I dared, and (s)he’s wonderful. I love the purple edge of the leaf too. I’ve been gardening today – nothing like a sewing machine I don’t understand to drive me to turn over dirt!
Why the sewing machine? I must have missed something about the reason for using one. I last used a sewing machine about 40 years ago!
Maja and Jaś are visiting and they need bags to put travel entertainment in! Or at least that’s what babcia thinks. And the great triumph of the day? Learning to drive the machine (sorry. Sewing computer) backwards. Oh and watching a whale lolling really close in in the pink evening. Am I sounding a bit insane?
You need to ask Su (Zimmerbitch) to make you a couple – unless you insist they are home made! She has created some gorgeous totes. Like the idea of watching a whale.
I spent $800 on my sewing computer to make them an outfit each. I haven’t used it since. I need to justify the expense! Mine won’t be gorgeous. I’ll check out the gorgeous ones.
The whales, mother and small one, were in the pink light of evening, so a bonus. AND Hugo grabbed me and drove me round. We’re a bit anxious, and hoping they’ve gone this morning: the behaviour was odd.
https://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2018/07/10/another-weekend-craft-project-completed/
The shots worked well for me. I’m not a spider fan, but don’t mind the small ones. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
You won’t see any bigger ones on here!
Know what you mean about trying to focus with a macro lens. Your shots are great nonetheless. I don’t mind spiders but ants really bother me.
DON’T mention the A N T S. We are currently (for the third year running) battling with them indoors – flying ants keep crawling out of cracks in the walls (and there are a lot of cracks in this granite built house). Drives me insane!!
Aaaagh!!! You have my complete sympathy.
An interesting looking insect
I don’t like spiders either, but this one is very photogenic and these are great captures. 🙂
Thanks Cathy. No big ones I promise!
Good! I don’t want any nightmares. 🙂
Those are stunning shots, Jude! This is one of my favourite spiders.
I thought you might know this one 🙂
🙂
What an amazing coloured spider and you have captured the detail of both spider and leaf he’s on so well
And he is teeny tiny – about half the size of my little finger nail.
Wow you did well to even see him let alone got his photo