About Dipoena melanogaster (C.L.Koch, 1837)
Dipoena melanogaster is a small spider with an approximate body length of 1.5 mm. Its front body segment is brownish-black, while the abdomen has a distinct color pattern: the front and sides of the abdomen are black, and the back is whitish, marked with brown and black speckles arranged in curved transverse stripes. The legs are whitish, with black rings at the tip of each segment and at each leg joint. Males are more slender than females, with a narrower abdomen and proportionally longer legs. Like females, males have black front body segments and mouthparts, but the back of the male abdomen is darker, appearing almost olive-brown, with visible black transverse markings formed by clusters of spots. D. melanogaster has been recorded across Europe, including the British Isles, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Poland, and Sweden. Its range extends into North Africa, and eastward through the Caucasus to Azerbaijan and Iran. This species is commonly found in woodland environments, particularly in coniferous forests, where it builds webs on shrubs and low trees. It is most active during the summer months of June and July, when mature males with fully developed reproductive organs can be observed.
