This
spider is commonly identified as Araniella cucurbitina.
However it is virtually indistinguishable from
A.
opisthographa = A. opistographa, which is also
common throughout Britain, and probably under-recorded.
There are also a couple of other similar, but much rarer,
species of this genus found in Britain.)
(on
Rhamnus cathartica, 23 May 2009)*
Ozyptila
praticola - a crab spider, with prey.
(5mm)
(29
May 2009)
Meta
segmentata - an orb weaver
(13
August 2009)
Meta
segmentata - an orb weaver
(13
August 2009)
The
two images above and the one to the right are of the
same spider, photographed over 2 days, in or near
its web on a chrysanthemum. The spider appears to
be an immature female, so identification is a little
uncertain.
The
spider is sometimes referred to as Metellina segmentata
and assigned to the family Metidae, rather than
Tegrathnathidae.
Meta
segmentata - an orb weaver
(immature
female, 14 August 2009)
Meta
mengei - an orb weaver
(12
September 2009)
This
spider, distinguished from the very similar Meta segmentata
(above) by its underside markings, is normally more
commonly found in the early season.
Meta
mengei - an orb weaver
(12
September 2009)
Meta
mengei is sometimes referred to as Metellina
mengei and assigned to the family Metidae, rather
than Tegrathnathidae.
