Ynghylch

The water spider lives underwater, building a bell-shaped web between underwater plant stems. It can be spotted as it comes to the water's surface to trap air in the hairs on its body, which it takes down to fill the web, or 'diving bell' (hence its other common name of 'diving bell spider'). It lives in this large air bubble during the day, and hunts at night. Mating takes place within the web retreat and the female builds a special egg chamber in which she lays and guards her eggs. Water spiders can be found in weedy lakes and ponds, and very slow-flowing streams.