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.
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.
