Ladybird spider. (Eresus sandaliatus) Just look at this fabulous little fellow. The ladybird spider&

Ladybird spider. (Eresus sandaliatus) Just look at this fabulous little fellow. The ladybird spider is one of the rarest spiders found in the UK, but are also found scattered across the rest of northern and central Europe.  The males are just unbelievably snazzy (he looks like he’s got a teeny tiny apron on). They have a bright orangey-red back with four large black spots just above two smaller ones - hence where they get their adorable name. Females and juvenile males are all black and quite a bit larger. Although the females may not be as flashy as the adult males, they deserve an award for mum of the year without a doubt.  The female will rarely leave her burrow and the male only emerges for two weeks in May to breed. After mating, the female lays up to 80 eggs in an adorable little cocoon and guards them until the spiderlings (cutest name for a baby animal EVER) hatch in July or August. She feeds them entirely on her regurgitated food, until finally the spiderlings eat their own mother. So, just to clarify, she sits and guards her eggs for two/three months in a dusty burrow, then gives them all of her food, THEN LETS THEM EAT HER.  Female ladybird spiders - taking one for the team. Images; One, Two. -- source link

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