Habitats as given in Roberts are as follows:
T. extensa – close to water/boggy habitats
T. Montana - sometimes near water, but also occurs further away from water than
T. extensa T. pinicola – often away from water (rare and uncertain records)
T.obtusa - damp woodland
T. nigrita – generally on trees (rare)
T. striata – reeds/vegetation in or close to water (rare)
T.extensa and
T. montana are by far the commonest of the species. The sternums of
Tetragnatha can be used to a degree to separate into two groups.
T.extensa and
T. pinicola have a distinct light mark thru' the centre of the sternum whereas the other species have a uniform dark sternum lacking this lighter band.
Your specimen could be
T. montana from the habitat info and would therefore also lack the light band on the sternum.
Palpal details however are the best determiner in my opinion.
No.9 Spider
