Ladybird spiders belong to the Eresus species
which is a genus of velvet spiders comprising several
species, including Eresus cinnaberinus (formerly E.
niger) and Eresus sandaliatus, both of which are
sometimes known as the "Ladybird spider". (Info:
Wikipedia)
Eresus cinnaberinus (formerly Eresus niger) is native to Europe. The taxon "Eresus cinnaberinus" is considered a nomen dubium, the specimens having been divided into the species E. kollari, E. sandaliatus and E. moravicus. The three species differ in size, color pattern, shape of prosoma and copulatory organs, and habitat, with no morphologically intermediate forms. As eastern and western E. kollari are genetically different, with the eastern form likely a hybrid between "pure" E. kollari and E. moravicus, it is possible that later revisions will partition it into additional species.
Males are up to 11 mm long, females can reach up to 20 millimetres (0.79 in). Males have a black prosoma and a strikingly red opisthosoma with four black dots (sometimes with white lining), resembling a ladybug (or ladybird). The black legs have white stripes, the hind legs are partly red. Females are black with some white hairs, only the front is sometimes yellow.
