Mating:
The male St Andrew cross spider is significantly smaller than the female and lacks the bright colouring. They are found on the edges of the females web, sometimes in a smaller web nearby. When attempting to mate, the male produces a thread of silk – a mating thread – which it attaches to the female’s web and vibrates it to gain her attention.
Eggs:
The female lays up to 1400 in a pear shaped egg case suspend in threads of silk at the edge of the web or hidden among leaves.
St Andrew’s cross baby spiders:
The baby spiders or spiderlings hatch from their eggs in Autumn but stay within the egg sace over winter, emerging the following spring.
Life-span:
St Andrew’s cross spiders live for about a year.