About Araniella opisthographa (Kulczyński, 1905)
Araniella opisthographa reaches an approximate body length of 3.5–4 mm (0.14–0.16 in) in males, and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) in females. The cephalothorax, also called the prosoma, ranges in color from yellow to red-brown; males usually have broad dark marginal bands on this structure. The abdomen, also called the opisthosoma, is distinctly shiny yellowish green on its dorsal surface. It has four small black depressions in the middle, and five pairs of black lateral spots. A red mark is located on the lower end of the abdomen. Males have copulatory organs at the tips of their pedipalps. The legs are yellow or red-brown. In males, the legs are ringed with red and black, and the femurs have several strong bristles along their entire length. This species is very similar to Araniella cucurbitina, which only has 1 to 4 pairs of black lateral spots on its abdomen. This species is widespread across Central Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, and Russia, and is also found in parts of Central Asia including Iran. These spiders typically live on trees (especially oaks) and bushes in woodland, scrub, and hedgerows, as well as in herbaceous environments. They prefer moderately dry to dry deciduous and coniferous forests.
