Spiders and mites

The Water Spider is the only spider species in Britain which lives under water. It makes an underwater shelter by attaching silk to plants and inflating it with air collected on its body on numerous trips to the surface. Here it brings its food, mainly insects stuck to the water surface and water lice. Here, too, the female tends to its offspring.

Many other spiders are associated with still water. These live near the water’s edge, feeling the water’s surface for vibrations set up by struggling insects and dashing across it to catch them.

Looking like a little ball with legs, a water mite scuttles around in search of tiny animal prey. Many of the species are bright red in colour. Their larvae are parasites on the bodies of other pond animals such as the Water Scorpion.

Water Spider	Water Mite
[Up to 16mm]	[Up to 7mm]

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