Spider I/D and behaviour (1 Viewer)

blackcountry mon · Sep 17, 2015

I took these series of photographs when a wasp? flew into a web and was attacked initially by one spider but soon two more appeared and joined in the attack. Can anyone please I/D the spiders and is this a usual occurrence with several spiders attacking the prey?

STS · Sep 17, 2015

Sorry can't ID the spiders but the 'wasp' is a hoverfly, Volucella zonaria.
Cheers, Thomas

aeshna5 · Sep 18, 2015

STS said:
Sorry can't ID the spiders but the 'wasp' is a hoverfly, Volucella zonaria.
Cheers, Thomas

Agree, sometimes called the Hornet Hoverfly. Think the spider is a Meta/Metallina sp.

salticus · Sep 19, 2015

It is common to see a female Metellina sharing her web with one or more males, though I've never seen them all attack prey together.

Ficedula · Sep 19, 2015

aeshna5 said:
Agree, sometimes called the Hornet Hoverfly. Think the spider is a Meta/Metallina sp.

This is one of the few photos of the large Hornet-mimic Volucella that shows the most distinctive feature very clearly. Hence it is surprising that two people have misidentified it (so confidently!). It is V. inanis.

blackcountry mon · Sep 19, 2015

Many thanks to everyone for their input, which is greatly appreciated.

Spider I/D and behaviour (1 Viewer)

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