The Cucumber Green Spider
The cucumber spider (Araniella cucurbitina) is a common but often overlooked part of the UK’s garden and woodland wildlife. With its neon green colouring and small size, it can be hard to spot (or not) – but once seen, it’s hard to forget.
The name cucurbitina comes from the family of plants including cucumbers, but despite the name, this spider has no particular link to cucumbers. Instead, its appearance and behaviour have earned it a quiet place in the ecosystem, and a few questions from curious observers – the main one being, do they bite?
Where do cucumber spiders come from?
Despite their exotic looks, cucumber spiders are actually native to the UK. They’re not an introduced species and have long been part of the natural landscape. They belong to the orb-weaver family, a large group of spiders known for their classic wheel-shaped webs. While some orb-weavers grow quite large, Araniella cucurbitina is on the smaller side and rarely draws attention unless viewed fairly close up.
What do cucumber spiders look like?
The cucumber spider is easily recognised by its bright green body and small size. The abdomen is rounded and usually a fresh, almost fluorescent green, which helps it blend in with foliage. Many individuals also have a small reddish spot or streak near the rear end of the abdomen. The cephalothorax (the fused head and thorax) is paler and slightly yellowish or brown, and the legs are light and finely haired.
Fully grown, the spider measures around 4 to 6 mm in body length. Males are slightly smaller and more slender than females. Despite the small size, the vivid colour makes them noticeable to a sharp eye, especially in spring and summer when they are most active.
Anatomy and web building
As an orb-weaver, the cucumber spider has its eight eyes arranged in two rows, and fangs adapted for catching and subduing small prey. Like other spiders, it produces silk from spinnerets at the rear of the abdomen. Its webs are usually small and stretched between leaves or branches in low shrubs and bushes.
Unlike large garden spiders that spin large, obvious webs, cucumber spiders tend to build more delicate structures, often tucked away in less visible spots. They sit on or near the web, waiting for flying insects such as aphids or midges to get caught.
Where do they live?
Cucumber spiders are found throughout the UK. They prefer habitats with dense vegetation, e.g. woodland edges, hedgerows, gardens, and even grassy meadows. They are particularly active from late spring through early autumn. Thanks to their green colouring, they are well camouflaged among leaves and rarely spotted unless you’re specifically looking for them.
They do not enter homes or live indoors. Their entire life cycle takes place outside, and they don’t pose a nuisance to households.
Do cucumber spiders bite?
Technically, yes. Like all spiders, cucumber spiders can bite. But in practice, it is extremely rare. Their fangs are very small and not strong enough to pierce human skin easily. Bites are unlikely unless the spider is trapped or mishandled, and even then, most people wouldn’t feel more than a tiny scratch.
If a bite does happen, it may feel like a mild pinprick, but here are no reports of serious reactions or danger from this species. They are not considered venomous to humans, and there’s no reason to be concerned about their presence outdoors. They are shy, non-aggressive, and far more interested in catching small insects than interacting with people.
The little cucumber spider is a small, bright green orb-weaver, native to the UK. It’s harmless to humans, rarely bites, and poses no threat. Its small web and excellent camouflage make it hard to spot, but it plays a helpful role in controlling insect numbers in gardens and hedgerows. If you come across one, there’s no need for alarm – just a good reason to stop and take a closer look at a species quietly going about its work.