Arachnologische Mitteilungen 56

European Spiders of the Year 2017 & 2018 33 in nooks and crevices (Komposch 1993) (Fig. 4). In some habitats it can be encountered quite frequently and in Central Europe the species is categorised as not threatened (Řezáč et al. 2015, Blick et al. 2016).The known distribution in Europe can be found in specific distribution maps (Helsdingen 2017, Arachnologische Gesellschaft 2018, CSCF 2018, Czech Arachnological Society 2018, European Society of Arachno­ logy 2018, MNHN 2018). Nuctenea umbratica can be mistaken for dark animals like Larinioides ixobolus (Thorell, 1873) , but for comparison this species is a metallic black and the foliation is lighter and more prominent. Juveniles of N. umbratica resemble the smaller (body length up to 9 mm), but much rarer, Nuctenea silvicul- trix (C.L. Koch, 1835).This species is distributed more to the east and differs by having lighter sides of the body and a more rounded opisthosoma (Nentwig et al. 2018, Wiki AraGes 2018). Nuctenea umbratica was chosen as the European Spider of the Year because (1) the species is quite common, (2) despite its hidden way of life it is easy to find close to houses, (3) it is a quite prominent and easy to identify species, and (4) it raises public awareness about its original habitat on the bark of dead wood and/or old trees. Steatoda bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)/Rabbit Hutch Spider/ Fettspinne/stéatode à deux points – Spider of the year 2018 Steatoda bipunctata belongs to the cobweb spider family (= comb-footed spiders, Theridiidae). Worldwide, this family has 2487 species of which 228 live in Europe (Nentwig et al. 2018, World Spider Catalog 2018).The genus Steatoda is re­ presented by 13 species in Europe, six of which can be found in Central Europe (Blick et al. 2004, Nentwig et al. 2018). The body length is 4.5–7 mm in females and 4–5.5 mm in males. The body appears greasy or waxy and shiny, especially the slightly flattened opisthosoma. In German it is called “Fettspinne” (Fat or Greasy Spider). The basic colour of the prosoma is brown to almost black, the opisthosoma is gener- ally light brown becoming dark brown to black towards the edges. A rather indistinct lighter stripe runs down the middle of the opisthosoma, as well as a wide pale band across the front (Fig. 5). Usually four small dark dots can be seen (these mark the points where muscles attach inside the body). The Fig. 1: Nuctenea umbratica – habitus male (photo: Christian Komposch, Ökoteam Graz) Abb. 1: Nuctenea umbratica – Habitus Männchen (Foto: Christian Kom- posch, Ökoteam Graz) Fig. 2: Nuctenea umbratica within its web (photo: Christian Komposch, Ökoteam Graz) Abb. 2: Nuctenea umbratica im Netz (Foto: Christian Komposch, Ökoteam Graz) Fig. 3: Natural habitat of Nuctenea umbratica on tree bark (photo: Gilbert Loos, ARABEL) Abb. 3: Natürlicher Lebensraum von Nuctenea umbratica auf einer Baum- rinde (Foto: Gilbert Loos, ARABEL) Fig. 4: Artificial habitat of Nuctenea umbratica in wall crevices (photo: Jo- han Van Hoecke, ARABEL) Abb. 4: Künstlicher Lebensraum von Nuctenea umbratica in Mauerspalten (Foto: Johan Van Hoecke, ARABEL)