ID UK Orb-weavers (1 Viewer)

Can I get some additional input on these. All were taken here in West Lancs (well the second was Marshside RSPB Southport which is bizarrely in Merseyside). And only no.2 was adjacent to water (albeit in a hide) the others were not.

I think the first 3 are all Larinioides but which ones. The first one I'm confident is cornutus but what about the next two? The last one not really a clue. It was a sizeable spider though similar in size to the others.

I think the first three are all L. cornutus but wouldn't swear to it.

The fourth is a Metellina species. It's not right for merianae so either segmentata or mengei

Thanks. I can't say for definite as it was a while a go now but I'm pretty sure the last one was bigger than a Metellina (which is what I was trying to say in my post) hence my confusion. My thought was maybe a male of a larger orb-weaver species but looking at pictures of male segmentata it does look a very good match.

Could no.2 be sclopetarius at all though as I somehow think it looks more like that than a cornutus (the hairier abdomen being one thing in its favour) and the fact it was right by water and in a hide window is what is also swaying me that way. I've cracked no.3 which is a juvenile cornutus which can appear brown as it was the colouring that was bothering me there!

Oh yes, I think you're right about no. 2. Sorry, I should have read your first post more closely.

The Metellina doesn't look right for merianae though that is a largish spider, so I reckon it's most likely a large segmentata. They tend to be sl. larger than mengei.

Ok. Thanks for the help. :t: