What sort of spider is this?

[cestrian]

This fellow was sat on my spuds eating a big caterpillar this afternoon. He certainly was a biggun!

Does anyone know what sort of spider it is? He had quite distinctive black stripes on his abdomen.

[cestrian]

[cornykev]

Not a clue, but lets hope it eats all your caterpillars.   :D

[Fayzie]

Pisaura mirabilis - Sometimes called the 'nursery web spider', this species hunts in low vegetation and on the ground. They vary in colour from grey to dark brown. As only one species of this genus present in northern Europe, this spider is unmistakable.

During mating the male presents the female with a carefully wrapped insect as a present. The female carries her egg sac in her jaws and can look fairly odd.

It is mature in summer and can be found in grassland, woodland and heathland. Occasionally they will wander into our houses but this is not their normal habitat.  Sometimes they are referred to as Wolf Spiders

Not that intelligent just found it on website nicksspiders.com, I go on there frequently as the ones round our way seem to be getting bigger and stranger.  ;D ;D ;D

[cestrian]

Thanks Fayzie

It certainly was a whopper. As long as it keeps the caterpillars under control it's welcome in my garden.