Garden Spider?

[ian_g]

Is this a garden spider? I ask this because it was much larger than your normal Garden Spider, probably around 20-25mm leg span.

Many thanks,
Ian

[mh68]

Yep Ian, a Garden/Cross Spider. There`s a similar sized one set up home under the rim of our wheelie bin,even staying put when we put the bin out
Must say, thats one of the best pics of the species i`ve seen, very impressed.

Mark H

[aeshna5]

Excellent photo- really bristly legs- sounds like it's a mature female.

[Ollie]

Certainly looks like a Garden Spider, they can reach a fair old size. Excellent shot as well
Roger

[juliejam]

Great shot ...what a beauty.. looks like she needs a leg wax...

[ian_g]

Thanks very much, all of you

Got to say, I have a major phobia about spiders so taking this shot didn't help the cause!!
Bizarrely enough mh68, this very one is living under the rim of our wheelie bin too! I just dislodged it and caught it in a plastic container with a leaf in it and then waited for it to 'unfurl'.

One thing that does puzzle me though... is it a female, and if so, how can you tell. I am old enough to know about men's and women's parts, just not spider's!!

[naturelover]

hi fantastic photoe,yes that is a garden spider please dont ask me the name of it cos i dont know sorry,some garden spiders are very big i am not scared of spiders but i do hate walking into their webs in the mornings,there is a stubbourn one that keeps making a web across my greenhouse door frame,even though i walk into it most mornings messing it up,i garantee give it an hour and its back for me to repeat it all over again ha ha.

[Venger]

Originally Posted by ian_g

One thing that does puzzle me though... is it a female, and if so, how can you tell. I am old enough to know about men's and women's parts, just not spider's!!

Species wise it's an Araneus diadematus (just so you know naturelover )

You can tell wether its male or female by looking at the pedipalps (or 'palps' those would be the 'little arms' at the front) if it was a male it would have 'boxing gloves' on.
Female (spiders) are generally bigger than than the male (the male having a much smaller abdomen).
Also, if you were so inclined, you could check out the 'epigyne' (the opening for the female reproductive organs) which is located on the underside of the abdomen (usually high up near top of the abdomen on all but Haplogyne spiders, which don't have epigynes) you'll need to do this, (as well as get good views of the palps) to be able to give 100% confirmation on species.
Not something you can really do with a photo, so mainly you get a 'best guess' online, though some species are much easier than others.

hope this helps

Venger

[paulchandler6]

A brilliant shot.......Am I right in saying that this is an uncommon spider in Britain?

[Venger]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

A brilliant shot.......Am I right in saying that this is an uncommon spider in Britain?

No, its very, very common

See map:

Araneus diadematus distribution map