Subpage other Arthropods (Arachnida) harvestmen, pseudoscorpions,  mites and ticks.

Nederlands / Dutch

Spiders 

Family orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae)
These spiders make spiral wheel-shaped webs. People often ask how the first thread is attached. From a point they release a length of a thread in the wind. They wait until the thread is stuck to another point. Then the web can be made​​. 

A picture of young orb-weavers (araneida). Most likely the European garden spider, because these spiders are the most common in our garden. But that is not certain. Photo 3-6-2013.

.. . .   European garden spider,  diadem spider, or cross spider (Araneus diadematus). Family orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae). At the end of the summer the garden is full of webs. Many webs are from the European garden spider. They often span a great distance.  The females are much larger than the males.  The mating is risky for the males, for they can be eaten by the female. When it is freezing the adult spiders die. The eggs are in cocoons and are deposited in autumn. This way they hibernate. The young spiders, which hatch in the spring, release long silken threads to travel on the wind to other areas. (ballooning) Cross spider because of the the white dots on its back forming a cross. Its colour is from light yellow to dark grey. Length 11-18 mm. Western Europe, parths of  North America. Photos 2-10-2010, 15-8-2012. German: Gartenkreuzspinne  French: épeire diadème

.. . .   Walnut Orb-Weaver Spider (Nuctenea umbratica). Family orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae). Walnut Orb-Weaver Spiders have a flattened body, with a leathery skin. The colour ranges from red brown to grey brown. On its body a leaf-like marking. Or dark like like the spider in the photo bottom left. It pretended to be dead. It folded its legs around. The spiders are nocturnal and shy by day. It is hiding under the loose bark of trees. You also often find the spider around houses. The web looks like the web of a cross spider. From the web the spider makes a signaling thread to the hiding place. After dusk it sits in the center of the web. Especially moths should beware. Length male  9 mm, female 14 mm. A common spider in Central Europe. Photos 17-10-2009, 28-5-2010, 23-4-2018.

.. .   Araniella spec. Family orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae). The Araniella cucurbitina and the Araniella opisthographa are not to distinguish from a photo. They are recognizable by the yellow-green abdomen.  In July, the eggs are laid in cocoons near the web. The very young spiders are light in color. In the autumn they are red, brown. A good camouflage among autumn leaves. They hibernate. Males 5 mm, females 8 mm. Small webs. Approximately 10 cm diameter. Photo 30-5-2009, 28-5-2010, 17-6-2012. German: Kürbisspinnen  French: épeire concombre Male. Photo 24-6-2013. Very young Araniella 7-3-2018.

.. . .    Missing sector orb weaver, silver-sided sector spider (Zygiella x-notata),  Family orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae). Grey-brown spiders with a leaf-like marking on the abdomen. At the front of the abdomen (near the head), it has a light spot. The web has to the top in the corner two sectors without connecting threads. You can find the webs of the Zygiella x-notata often in window frames.  Males up to 7 mm, females up to 11 mm. The eggs overwinter in a cocoon. The females you can find late in the year. Europe, parts of Asia, North and South America. Photos 12-9-2009, 17-10-2009, 22-11-2012.

Nymph:    Mangora acalypha. Family orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae). An easily recognizable spin. By the spots on the body and the black border and center stripe on the carapace. Webs on bushes and low vegetation. Male 3-3,5 mm, female 5,5-6 mm. The Palearctic regions. Photo 13-6-2010, photo nymph 5-4-2018. German: Streifenkreuzspinne.

Furrow spider, furrow orb spider, foliate spider (Larinioides cornutus). Family orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae). Not in the garden, but near a ditch two kilometers from home. Front of the abdomen with a dark, lightly fringed keel spot and a dark, clear V-shape. The prosoma is grey-brown with light hairs. Males 6-8 mm, females 10-13 mm. The orb web can be found between reeds and tall grasses or herbs, especially along banks. The Holarctic region. Photo 5-5-2024.  German: Schilfradspinne  French: épeire roseaux

Family Stretch spiders (Tetragnathidae) 
Stretch spiders have an elongated body form. They have long legs. They can camouflage themselves well on a stem or  an elongated  leaf. Than they stretch their front legs forward and the others legs in the other direction. 
The web is like a spiral wheel-shaped web, but with a hole in the middle.

.. .   Stretch spider spec. (Tetragnatha spec.) Family Stretch spiders (Tetragnathidae)  There are similar species. They are not to identify from a picture. Early summer I often see them  at the pond.  Although I haven't seen it, they can walk over water. Photos 30-6-2012.

.. . .    Metellina spec. Family Stretch spiders (Tetragnathidae). Like the money spiders metellina species  have a tuning fork figure on the carapace. Metellina mengei  Length 5 mm. July - September or Metellina segmentata. They are very similar. Despite their name they are about the same time of the year. According Jacomijn Princen: If the ventral hairs (not the bristles) are shorter than the diameter of the last leg segment of a front leg: It is the M. segmentata. When they are twice as long, it is is the M. mengei. This feature applies only to males.  Photos 17-5-2009, 12-9-2010, 26-9-2012. German: Herbstspinnen.   A young Metellina, nymph. Photos 3-10-2012, 8-4-2018.

Family tangle-web spiders,  cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae) 
They have a  bulbous body. Messy webs with sticky threads.  They have rows of tiny bristles on the tip of their hind legs they use to spread out their silk. Tangle-web spiders (Theridiidae)  have a comb on the underside of the tarsus of leg IV. Tangled nest spiders (Amaurobiidae)  have a comb on the top of the metatars.

Male  .   Female  . . .       Anelosimus vittatus, Seycellocesa vittatus. Family tangle-web spiders,  cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae).  Length female 3-3.5 mm, male 2.5-3.5 mm. Low in the trees and bushes and in high vegetation. Photos female 6-3-2018.

.. . .  Enoplognatha ovata or Enoplognatha latimana. Family tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae).  Two very similar species. The colour may vary. Always two rows of black spots. The cocoons with eggs are light blue. You can find them on leaves curled by spinning. Length 3-6 mm. Photos 27-8-2012, 24-9-2012. Enoplognatha and a cocoon, with youg spiders and an Ero.   A young Enoplofnatha. Foto 16-2-2014. The dark spots are very well visible.

.. . .   Episinus angulatus.  Family tangle-web spiders,  cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae).  They can stretch their front legs forward like Stretch spiders. In 2009 I found this young spider on a flowerpot. They make their H-shaped web at or near ground level.  The Episinus angulatus has a flat, thin body, but it broadens a bit near the end. About 5 mm Photos 8-10-2009, 11-10-2010, 30-2-2012, 19-4-2012. Now I find every year some spiders of this species.

.. . Neottiura bimaculata. Female. Family tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae). Familie kogelspinnen (Theridiidae).  A dark spider with a broad whitish or yellowish stripe. The size of the stripe is variable, sometimes it is very broad. The females carry their egg sac. Length female 3-3.5 mm, male 2.5-3 mm.  In lower vegetation and bushes. Europe, Asia, North America, North Africa. Photos 9-6-2018, 11-6-2018. 4-7-2018 Neottiura bimaculata with egg sack. (taken in the dunes)         29-4-2024  Neottiura bimaculata male with parasite.

..  Paidiscura pallens. Young male. Family tangle-web spiders,  cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae).  A tiny, pale yellow spider. The abdomen of the male is dark spotty and of the female pale yellow. Length female 1,25-1,5 mm, male 1.7-1.75 mm. Male april - June. Female throughout the year. Especially along forest edges under oak leaves. Photos 11-10-2016.       Female 6-6-2019.   Female with cocoon (more photos: Waarneming.nl/observation/173990888 ) 7-6-2019.

..    Common house spider, American house spider  (Parasteatoda tepidariorums).  Family tangle-web spiders,  cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae). Pale light brown to yellow brown black marbled spider. Length female 3.5-4 mm, male 4.5-7 mm. Originally probably from South America, now worldwide. In colder areas especially in frost-free areas such as greenhouses and cellars with webs usually close to the ground. In warm areas even in treetops. Photos 16-6-2023 6-7-2023 Same spider. Almost a month later. Now with a cocoon. A spherical egg sac, cocoon with a paper-like outer layer.

Platnickina tincta. Family tangle-web spiders,  cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae).  Light legs with black rings are striking in this spider. Length 2.5 mm female, male 2.5-3.5 mm. Most of the year with a peak time from May to July. Usually found on low vegetation, lower branches of conifers and deciduous trees and shrubs. Photo 6-3-2017.

.. . .   Rabbit hutch spider (Steatoda bipunctata). Family tangle-web spiders,  cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae).  The carapace is glossy shiny brown. The Steatoda bipunctata spider is often found under trees and in or around houses, barns and garages. On the large photo a male, which can compare with the female on the last small photo on the left. Length  4-7 mm. Photos 17-10-2009, 25-4-2012, 20-10-2014. German: Fettspinne   Photos 13-2-2010. A hibernating Rabbit hutch spider under the lid of a garbage. Maybe a young spider.

Cupboard spider, dark comb-footed spider, brown house spider, false widow or false black widow (Steatoda grossa). Nymph  Family tangle-web spiders,  cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae).  Compared to other cobweb spiders large. Dark colored, coloring ranges from purplish brown to black, with light colored markings. In houses and gardens. A web against the ground surface. Adult female 6.5-10 mm, male 4-6 mm. Photo 14-9-2020  Adult spider:    .   5-8-2022

..  Theridion varians. Family tangle-web spiders,  cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae).  Not sure, because it is very similar to the Theridion hemerobium and the Theridion pictum, which occur in more humid biotopes. The abdomen is usually pale green with a variable coloured pattern. From pale red-brown to with a large part of black. Female length 2.5-4 mm, male 2.5-3.5 mm. A peak time is from May to July. In drier needle and deciduous forests. Lives in low vegetation, but also on shrubs and trees. In our garden in a low oak. Europe (up to Sibiria), North America, North Africa, Turkey, Caucasus, Central Asia and China. Photos 7-7-2019, 9-7-2019.

Family sheet weavers (from the shape of their webs),  money spiders (Linyphiidae)
sheet webs with criss-cross threads above it to let the insects fall down in the web. The spider hangs upside down under it.

.. . . . .   Linyphia hortensis. Family sheet weavers, money spiders (Linyphiidae) At first I thought to Microlinyphia pusilla. But according to Pierre Oger is Linyphia hortensis most likely. Also because they are found in May in the garden. In the Netherlands mainly in May - June. The female is dark and has a white band on the side. On the abdomen are white spots. These are variable. The males are not similar. They have narrow abdomen and their legs are brown red. They make their web quite close to the ground.  About 5 mm. Photos May 2010.

.. . .   Money spider (Linyphia triangularis). Family sheet weavers,  money spiders (Linyphiidae). Money spiders have a tuning fork figure on the carapace. The Linyphia tenuipalpis is similar, but this spider is mainly found in the eastern Netherlands and is rarer. The cocoons with eggs are hidden under the leaves. Photos: 7-12-2009, 12-9-2012, 18-9-2012. German: Gemeine Baldachinspinne.      iLinyphia triangularis male has a somewhat more elongated abdomen. Photo 15-10-2024.

.. .   Lepthyphantes minutus. Genus Lepthyphantes. Family sheet weavers, money spiders (Linyphiidae). In any case Lepthyphantes. The species is not certain. Recognizable by the dark carapace and striped legs. You can find it near tree trunks I found this spider in October under a bag of sand. Lepthyphantes are small spiders. This is a larger species. But still small.  Length 3-4 mm. Photos 18-10-2009.

..  Microneta viaria. Family sheet weavers, money spiders (Linyphiidae). A red-brown prosoma and a black-brown abdomen. Solid yellow-brown legs. In moderately moist leaf waste under trees and shrubs. Body length 2.1-3 mm. Adult spiders can be found throughout the year, but in the Netherlands most observations are in autumn, winter and spring. Palearctic and Nearctic region. Photos 8-2-2018. Male.

..   Platform hammock-spider (Neriene peltata). Family sheet weavers, money spiders (Linyphiidae). The back is white with a dark brown central stripe. The abdomen is striped brown and white. Body length about 5 mm. Male: April - July. Female: April - September. Photos 2-6-2009. German: Waldbaldachinspinne.

.. .   Herb hammock spider (Neriene clathrata). Family sheet weavers, money spiders (Linyphiidae). The photo is of a male. The palps are striking. The body is dark brown. To the abdomen is a band of light spots. The legs are orange-brown, without tires. It looks like the Microlinyphia pusilla. The abdomen of the female is nicely marked. They make their webs close to the ground in plants and shrubs. Approximately 4-5 mm. Adult: March - November Photos 17-02-2012.   Herb hammock spider (Neriene clathrata), female. 30-3-2015.

.. .  Dwarfspider (Erigonidae) Family dwarfspiders (Erigonidae) Also called subfamily of sheet weavers, money spiders (Linyphiidae). This spider was about two mm. There are many species. From a photograph, they are not to determine. The dwarfspider from 2011 was a little larger. It is an other species. Photos 15-11-2010,  25-11-2011.

Familie Kaardertjes (Dictynidae)
They create a tangle of silken fibers.

..  .    Nigma walckenaeri. Family Dictynidae. This green spider lives on leaves and is well camouflaged. The male has a reddish brown carapace. As you can see on the photos it makes very fine cobwebs. From the curled leaves it makes a shelter by cobwebs. The male stays with the female and there is no no danger, it is eaten by the female, like most other spiders. But when it dies, it is still eaten. Length 3 - 5 mm. Adults in August - October.  Photos 18-10-2009, 3-10-2012, 19-10-2012.

Family Vibrating Spiders (Pholcidae)
Spiders with a small body and very long legs. They make messy, irregular, tangled webs.

..   Daddy-long-legs spider, cellar spider or skull spider, vibrating spider,  house spider (Pholcus phalangioides). Family Pholcidae. The spider has got its name vibration spider, because it is shaking when it is threatened.  Just like in our house you can find this spider in most houses and barns. Often in dark places. They make a rather messy web. Often near the ceiling. When the web is dirty, they make a new one. They don't eat their own web like many other spiders. My wife is not very happy with these webs. The spider throws tough web material over the victim in the web until it is harmless. The eggs are held together with a few wires. The female hold the eggs in her pedipalps. Body length females: about 9 mm. Males are slighty smaller.  Photos 8-10-2009, 6-11-2012. German: Große Zitterspinne French: Pholque phalangide.

Family tangled nest spiders, night spiders, hacklemesh weavers (Amaurobiidae) 
Night spiders because they are active at night. They make  wooly combed catching silk. It is a not sticking, messy web, but when the victim in the web tries to free itself, it  becomes even more tangled into the stretching, wooly silk. With a comb on the rear legs the spider comb the silk wooly. Tangled nest spiders (Amaurobiidae)  have a comb on the top of the metatars. Tangle-web spiders (Theridiidae)  have a comb on the underside of the tarsus of leg IV. 

..  Window spider, Amaurobius fenestralis or Amaurobius similis. Family tangled nest spiders, night spiders, hacklemesh weavers (Amaurobiidae). Both species are quite similar. You can find them in the house. But usually they are on outside walls near windows, but also under bark and stones. On the abdomen, the window spider has some V-shaped spots. The spider in the pictures on the left is a man. I found them under the lid of a garbage can. Length 7 - 12 mm.   Female. Photos 9-10-2012. 30-4-2010.

..    Amaurobius similis. Family tangled nest spiders, night spiders, hacklemesh weavers (Amaurobiidae). male Male Amaurobius similis has thin, strongly curved inner tibial apophysis ("hook"). Amaurobius fenestralis has a palp with a wide and (viewed from above) almost straight inner tibial apophysis. Information on Waarneming in Dutch. The males can be identified in this way.

.. . .   Black lace-weaver(Amaurobius ferox). Female. Family tangled nest spiders, night spiders, hacklemesh weavers (Amaurobiidae). Often in cellars,  under stones and dead wood. Dark brownish red, blackish. Back body hairy, dark with lighter markings, which are clearer in the male. Female length 11-16 mm, male 11-12 mm. Photos 8-4-2019.

Family funnel-web spiders(Agelenidae)

In the Netherlands, the family consists of the genus Agelena, Allagelena, Eratigena, Histopona, Inermocoelotes, Malthonica, Tegenaria and Textrix.
The genus Tegenaria has recently been split: Tegenaria species have striped legs, Eratigena species have normal legs. Furthermore, they are very difficult to identify.

A young jonge Housespider spec (Tegenaria or Eratigena spec.). Family funnel-web spiders (Agelenidae) Stripes on the legs aren't clear yet. Photo 25-4-2011

..  .  .   Giant house spider, Dust Spider, Dustbunny Spider (Now Eratigena atrica, formely Tegenaria atrica). Family funnel-web spiders (Agelenidae) The giant house spider therefore has no markings on its gray-brown legs. It lives in and near houses. In other countries it lives near rock walls. They create a horizontal, dense web that ends in a funnel. A kind of living tube. During the day he hides. At night it sits in its web. The eggs are laid in April. Young giant house spiders appear in May. The males do not grow old. The females, however, can live up to six years. Males 15 mm, females 18 mm. Common in Europe. Photos 3-7-2011.

Family six-eyed spiders (Segestriidae).
Spiders with six eyes instead of eight eyes like most spiders.

..   Segestria bavarica. Family six-eyed spiders (Segestriidae).  I found it against the wall of the kitchen. A hairy, dark brown spider. The abdomen lighter in the middle with dark spots and with a light central line through the rear spots. It lives in cracks in walls, rocks and bark. It makes a tubular shelter with signal wires, through which it notices and catches insects in the dark. The eggs are layed in the shelter and guarded. Males 9-11 mm females 10-13 mm. Europe. Photos 29-4-2019.

These spiders don't use webs to capture prey.

Family Spitting spiders (Scytodidae) and also belongs to the family of six eyed spiders. (Haplogynae)
They spit a poisonous silk in a zig-zaggy pattern at their prey. The prey is stuck on the surface. Distance up to about 2 cm. In the Netherlands Scytodes thoracia is the only species. 

.. .   Spitting Spider (Scytodes thoracica) Family Spitting spiders (Scytodidae). A light brown spider with a flecked pattern of dark spots.  The spider has long legs with dark rings. The thorax is larger than the abdomen. Unlike most spiders with eight eyes the Spitting spider has six eyes. The silk, they spit is poisonous. In the head-thorax are silk glands, which are connected to venom glands. They also have silk glands in the body behind. The females carry the egg mass under their body. In the Netherlands they mainly are found in the houses, for the winters are too cold for them. Originally they live in southern Europe.  Length 3-6 mm. Photos 27-3-2009, 01-10-2011. German: Speispinne, Leimschleuderspinne.

Family wolf spiders (Lycosidae) 
Some species are chasing their prey (small distances). Other wolfspiders wait for a prey (in a burrow). The females carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets. Burrowing species hide the cocoon in the ground. When the young leave the sac, they stay on the abdomen of mother.

.. .  Common fox-spider (Alopecosa pulverulenta). Family wolf spiders (Lycosidae).   A dark reddish-brown spider. The prosoma with a wide paler middle band. The abdomen with a lancet-shaped pale brown middle band with a lancet-shaped dark part in the middle. Other spiders from this genus in the Netherlands are Alopecosa cuneata), Alopecosa cursor, Alopecosa fabrilis, Alopecosa trabalis. Length male: about 7 mm, female: about 7-10 mm. The females dig a burrow where they guard their egg sack. Photos 29-3-2019.

.. .   Wolf spider spec. (Pardosa spec.) Family wolf spiders (Lycosidae).  The species can't be determined from a photo. They are walking around in our garden in search of victims. Therefore they have a good vision. Photos 27-3-2011, 22-5-2010. The females carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets.  When the young leave the sac, they stay on the abdomen of mother. German: Wolfspinne  With young spiders on the back.  Photo 6-8-2010.  Sometimes a wolf spider make a mistake. Here a female has a faded woodlouse as a cocoon. Photo 30-8-2010.

..   Pirate wolf spider spec. (Pirata spec.) Family wolf spiders (Lycosidae). This spider was among the plants, I took away from the pond. The name "pirate" it owes to the fact that he lives in the water. They can walk on water. There are similar species. Parate wolf spiders have a tuning fork figure on the carapace.  The cocoon, you see here is waterproof. Photo 28-7-2011.    German: Wasserjäger         was among the plants, I took away from the pond. The name "pirate" it owes to the fact that he lives in the water. They can walk on water. There are similar species. Parate wolf spiders have a tuning fork figure on the carapace. The cocoon, you see here is waterproof. Photo 28-7-2011. German: Wasserjäger.

.. .    Trochosa territcola or Trochosa spinipalpis. Family wolf spiders (Lycosidae). Genus Trochosa.  In Europe there are four species. Trochosa terricola and Trochosa spinipalpis look very much alike. They hunt at night. By day they hide. This female, however, was in the sun on a leaf. Photos 18-4-2010.

..    Aulonia albimana. Family wolf spiders (Lycosidae). Not in the garden but in the dunes 4 km from our house. A small wolf spider. Here it is walking on the flower of a willow. The front part is dark brown to black with a thin white border around it. The abdomen is dark brown, dark gray. Brown legs, only the upper part of the front legs is black. The middle segments of the black pedipalps of both the male and the female are  white. (not shown in the picture) Unlike the most wolf spiders it makes a web. It is a funnel web near the ground. But they also walk around. The spider in the picture was somewhat higher. It is found in dry areas with low plants, in the Netherlands in the dunes. In the rest of the Netherlands, it is quite rare. Length to 4.5 mm. Photos 21-4-2013. Europe.

Family  Nursery web spiders (Pisauridae) 
Nursery web spiders make egg sacs, which they first carry under the body. When the eggs are about to hatch, the cocoon will be attached to a plant. Therefore the female spider will build a kind of woven tent. A nursery tent. That's why they got the name nursery web spider. In the Netherlands there are two genera. Pisaura and Dolomedes.
The six eyes of a nursery spider have more or less the same size. The wolf spiders also have six eyes, but have two prominent eyes.

..   Nursery webspider, Pisaura mirabilis. Family  Nursery web spiders (Pisauridae).  In the Netherlands the only species of the family. You can recognize a nursery web spider by the light triangular flaps besides the eyes and the light line on the head. The color is gray to brown. They hunt on the plants. You often see them in the sun. Just like in these pictures. Then they look like a running crab spider. For mating, the male offers the female an insect. The nest they make between the grass. Length 10-15 mm. German: Listspinne, Raubspinne oder Brautgeschenkspinne. French: La pisaure admirable.            . Nursery webspider with an egg sacs in a web. Photos 21-6-2019, 25-6-2019.

Family Cell spiders, woodlouse hunters (Dysderidae)

.. .    Woodlous spider (Dysdera crocata). Cell spiders, woodlouse hunters (Dysderidae). Photos 29-6-2012. The carapace is red brown, the abdomen is white-yellow, white-gray. They feed on woodlice. With the elongated fangs it captures the woodlice.  (Between the segments of woodlice.) In my garden they are under stones and wood. I found this spider by accident because I had cut a piece of bamboo on the compost heap. It had made a nest. I have put back the bamboo as good as possible.  Males 7-10 mm. Females 15-20 mm. You can find these spiders almost anywhere in the world. The woodlous spiders Dysdera crocata and Dysdera erythrina are very similar. Dysdera crocata has a few spines on the posterior thigh. The bottom photo shows two spines.   German: Kleine asseljäger (Dysdera erythrina)  Woodlous spider (Dysdera crocata). On the large picture you can see the spines.

.. .    Maybe Woodlous spider (Dysdera crocata). Cell spiders, woodlouse hunters (Dysderidae).  But... with to many spines on the rear thighs.! When I opened the water meter box (dry), I saw a few young spiders and an adult spider of the family Dysderidae.  It was thought that this could be a Harpactea rubicunda (not yet found in the Netherlands) because of the many spines on the rear thigh. But: Harpactea rubicunda has shorter jaws, which are also directed more downwards, which are at right angles with the body, making them stand out much less in a top view than with Dysdera (thanks Frank van de Putte). There are many more Dysdera species abroad. Perhaps it is one of the exotic species you can find here: https://araneae.unibe.ch/list/species/107  Rear thigh with to seven spines. Mostly only two spines.     Young cell spiders. Photo's 27-3-2011.

Family Sac Spiders (Clubionidae) 
Usually without much colour and therefore they are difficult to determine. They hunt at night. 

..   Sac spider spec. (Clubiona spec.). Family Sac Spiders (Clubionidae). You often find them among the leaves, under stones, or bark. They make at daytime a small web (a silken tube or sac), where they hide and sleep during the day. Such a sac they also use for the eggs To hunt at night they use no web. Length about 5 mm. Most species are grey-brown with grey hair. Of the many Dutch species only a few can be identified from a photograph.  Photos: 21-12-2009, 18-9-2012, 13-9-2018. The spider in the picture is still young. Photo 21-10-2009.

..   Clubiona comta. Family Sac Spiders (Clubionidae). Female. Looks like the larger Clubiona corticalis. Abdomen with a striking pattern. Female 4-6 mm, male 3-5 mm. Photos: 7-5-2019.

Clubiona corticalis. Family Sac Spiders (Clubionidae). Female. So looks like the smaller Clubiona comta with a patterned body. I found this spider on the counter at home. Looking at the lean abdomen, there was little food. Female 7-11 mm, male 6-10 mm. Photos: 12-11-2019.

Family Ground spiders (Gnaphosidae).
This family closely related to Clubionidae.

Ground spider spec. (Gnaphosidae). There are several dark species, which are difficult to identify. Zelotes is possible. But it is not certain.  They hunt at night and hide during the day. As a shelter, they weave a silk bag. This spider was a little confused, because it walked on the terrace by day, Length about 8 mm. Photo 18-4-2011.

Scotophaeus. Family Ground spiders (Gnaphosidae). On the basis of size probably Scotophaeus scutulatus. Scotophaeus scutulatus (Female 8-16 mm, male 7-11mm) and Scotophaeus blackwalli (Female 8-16 mm, male 7-11 mm) can't be separated from a photograph like this. I found this spider in the sink in the kitchen. Photo 13-5-2018.

Family Buzzing spiders (Anyphaenidae)

Buzzing spider (Anyphaena accentuata). Buzzing spiders (Anyphaenidae).    In the Netherlands it is the singel species of the buzzing spiders. At night the buzzing spider hunts on the leaves of bushes and trees. On this photo the spider is sitting on the bamboo, which is designed for masonry bees to make nests in it. I am not really happy. Under the leaves you can find cocoons with eggs, which are guarded by the females. The males are able to produce audible sounds by vibrating the abdomen against the leaves (for the females). From light brown to grayish brown. They can be identified by the triangular dark spots on the rear body. And by the dark lateral bands on the carapace with light spots. In winter they sit under the bark of dead trees. Length 4-8 mm. Europe, Central Asia. Photos 18-4-2010.

Family crabspiders (Thomisidae)
Like crabs crabspiders have a flat body and powerful frontlegs and they are able to move sideways. They are oft sitting among or on leaves or flowers. 

.. .   Diaea dorsata.  Family crabspiders (Thomisidae). To recognize by the green carapace and legs. A brown with yellow abdomen. Males 4 mm, 6 mm females. This spider was missing a leg, but it did not bother. If it is not an adult, it gets a new leg after molting. In dangerous situations, these spiders and many other spiders are able to drop a leg. German: Grüne Krabbenspinne, Grünbraune Krabbenspinne. Crabspiders don't make a web, but they use spider silk as security thread. gh the air)    Photo: 21-10-09 The male Diaea dorsata has very long legs. Photo 16-5-2010.

Leaflitter Crab Spider (Ozyptila praticola).  Family crabspiders (Thomisidae). They can be found in the bushes and the lower part of trees. The female guards her cocoon with eggs. There are twelve species Known in Europe. All very small spiders. Length 3-4 mm. Photo 15-11-2010.

.. .    Xysticus lanio. Family crabspiders (Thomisidae). Male 4 - 6 mm. Female 6 -7 mm. Europe. Photos 11-10-2010.

Mother love. When I pruned the Euonymus (bush) on 24-5-2011, I saw a Xysticus lanio sitting on her nest. I folded the leaves a bit and took some pictures. I did not prune this twig. Every few days, I was looking at the spider. I always found her at her nest. Almost two months later (17-7-2011) the young spiders appeared. Mother was still present. What is nature special.

Family Running Crab Spiders (Philodromidae)
Running crab spiders closely resemble crab spiders (Thomisidae), but their second set of legs are the longest. They chase for prey. Crab spiders wait for prey. Both species are able to move sideways.

.. .    Philodromus spec. Family Running Crab Spiders (Philodromidae).  What species it is, I can't say. A microscope is required!! It is able to run away sideways. You often can  see them with spread legs close to a leaf. Photos 29-4-2009, 6-6-2009, 13-6-2009. German: Laufspinnen.

Philodromus dispar.  Family Running Crab Spiders (Philodromidae). This is the male. The male Philodromus dispar is black or dark brown with white edges.   The female  is variable in colour.  About 5 mm. Photo: 5-5-2012.   Female Philodromus dispar 15-11-2010.

.. Darker:    Philodromus aureolus. Family Running Crab Spiders (Philodromidae). This is a male. Thin palps. Males have a metallic sheen. This spider have a grey colour. Often it is grey with a purple sheen. Females and young spiders have no metallic sheen (Tan - brown). They can be confused with Philodromus cespitum and Philodromus buxi. May-August. Males: 4-5 mm. Females: 4-7 mm. The young spiders overwinter. Photos 28-5-2010, 30-5-2010.

Rhysodromus histrio. Family Running Crab Spiders (Philodromidae). Not in the gartden but in the dunes about 2 km from our house. A very contrasting brown and white drawing. Length 5-7 mm. Photo 3-9-2023.

Tibellus oblongus or Tibellus maritimus. Not in the gartden but in the dunes about 4 km from our house.  A light brown or pale yellow spider. It is elongated and slender. From the head runs a brown stripe on the midline of the abdomen. On the abdomen two small dark spots. The two species are very similar. Length 7-10 mm. Photo 17-6-2013.

Family jumping spiders (Salticidae)
Jumping spiders can jump from place to place, secured by a silk tether.

.. . .   Zebra spider (Salticus scenicus). Subfamily Salticinae. Family jumping spiders (Salticidae). Zebra spiders are like the zebras black with white stripes of hairs. You can find it outside on the house walls in the sunshine. This spider can jump very well. The four pairs of eyes are striking. In front of the head are two large and two small eyes. Above, it has two small eyes. They therefore have a good vision a very wide field of view. In the Netherlands there are two other species. Namely Salticus cingulatus and Zebra Salticus nose. They use a small white silk sac for hiding. The eggs are also laid in this sac. The adult spider overwinters. Length 5-7 mm. Widespread throughout Europe, northern Asia and North America.  Photos 30-4-2010 / 16-3-2011.  German: Zebraspringspinne.  French: Saltique chevronné.

..   Heliophanus spec. Subfamily Heliophaninae. Family jumping spiders (Salticidae). A jumping spider. There are some similar Heliophanus species in the Netherlands. A nice small spider. I often see it early summer in the garden. Similar species:  Heliophanus cupreus,  Heliophanus flavipes. Photos 29-5-2010.

..  Heliophanus cupreus. Subfamily Heliophaninae. Family jumping spiders (Salticidae). In picture the left palp has a small circular hook. You have to look very well. When you can't find the hook it is Heliophanus spec. So it is very important, when you want to find the right name. (Thanks Willem Boomkens). Palearctic. Photos 2-6-2011.

.. . .    Evarcha falcata. Subfamily Plexippinae. Family jumping spiders (Salticidae). The male is brown. The prosoma with a black rear part and whitish side. The abdomen is light brown with a black band on the side and a white border below. The female is less variegated. The prosoma is black with brown hairs. A red-brown, gray-brown abdomen with white hairs on the front. Length male 5 mm. Length female about 7 mm. Palearctic. Photos 14-8-2010, 26-9-2010. Female 29-4-2018.

.. . .   Fencepost jumping spider, Marpissa muscosa. Family jumping spiders (Salticidae). It is a large jumping spider. In the Netherlands it is a widespread spider. Mostly on trees. But they also can be found on wooden posts and wooden walls. They are well camouflaged with dark brown markings on the light brown surface. Photos 24-4-2011. German:  Rindenspringspinne         female Photo 15-5-2011. Nymph 5-4-2014.

.. .    Euophrys frontalis. Subfamily Euophryinae. Family jumping spiders (Salticidae). Compared to the Marpissa muscosa the Euophrys frontalis is a tiny jumping spider. Around the eyes are red rings. The color is variable. There are light and dark spiders. The front legs are black. Male 2-3 mm. Female 3-4 mm.  Palearctic. Photo 21-5-2011.

.. . .   Sittipub pubescens, synonym Sitticus pubescens. Subfamily Sitticinae. Family jumping spiders (Salticidae). You can find it near the house on walls, on the trunk of trees and rocks (not in the Netherlands of course). This male was walking on the tiles of the terrace. Male 4 mm. Female 4-5 mm. Europe, United States. Photos 3-6-2011, 1-7-2017.  German: Vierpunktspringspinnen.

Family Pirate spiders (Mimetidae)
In the Netherlands and in the surrounding countries you have of this family only the genus Ero. In the Netherlands there are four species: Ero aphana, Ero cambridgei, Ero furcata,  Ero tuberculata.

.. . .  Ero spec. Genus Ero. Family Pirate spiders (Mimetidae). Spiders can attack each other. There is even a specialized family spiders. Namely the Pirate spiders, Mimetidae. The ero don't spin a web. They bite a spider in its own web mostly in its legs with a quickly paralyzing venom.  It's a small spider from 2 to 4 mm. This is the Ero aphana or the Ero tuberculata. I saw the Ero after I had photographed an Enoplognatha nest. Mother Enoplognatha guarded the nest but did not see the ero. She wasn't attacked by the ero. The eggs of an ero are laid in a cocoon surrounded with a wiry silk and is hanging by a silken thread.  Photos 24-9-2012. Photo cocoon 21-7-2011.

Ero aphana.  Genus Ero. Family Pirate spiders (Mimetidae). The prosoma is pale yellow-brown with a dark edge, a dark center line and two shorter longitudinal stripes behind the side eyes. Abdomen with four equally large tubercles. In the Ero tuberculata the front pair of tubercles is larger than the rear pair. Legs with pale and dark rings. Male 2,4-2,6 mm. Female 2,5-3,3mm.  Photo 11-6-2018.

.. .   Ero furcata or Ero cambridgei. Genus Ero. Family Pirate spiders (Mimetidae). Recognizable by the light brown prosoma with a dark edge, a dark stripe behind the eyes and a dark center line. The abdomen has two small nodules. Legs with brown and white rings. Male 2,3-2,75 mm. Female 2.5-3.25 mm. Photos 13-3-2018.

Subpage other Arthropods (Arachnida) harvestmen, pseudoscorpions,  mites and ticks.

I want to thank everyone, who has helped me (waarneming.nl) to identify.

 Nederlands / Dutch