Cricket Bat Spider - Mangora acalypha

Male 3 mm, female up to 6 mm. Prosoma light greenish, with black margin and median stripe. Sternum almost black. Legs yellowish. Tibia III with 2 rows of plumose trichobothria. Opisthosoma whitish yellow, rarely greenish, posteriorly with "Cricket Bat" marking consisting of 3 rows of black spots followed by longitudinal stripes, remaining pattern irregular, mostly consisting of longitudinal stripes. Ventrally black with 2 pairs of large, yellow spots.

Photographs required to confirm this uncommon species. 

Occurs on heathland and in open woodland. It can usually be found in the centre of its small but densely woven orb web, which is constructed on low vegetation such as heather and gorse.

Mature early in the season, adults occurring mainly from May to June.

The species has a widespread but patchy distribution in southern England and south Wales.

Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Anstey record of March 2021 is the first for VC55 and seems to represent a significant northward extension of its known range.

http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Mangora+acalypha