Unknown Spider

[Dogghound]

Found in my house a couple of days ago. Im sure its a common species, im just useless with spiders . Looks like an immature female, its abdomen was about 5mm max.

Cheers.

[Venger]

Looks like a Zygiella x-notata.
A very common species, usually you find them one your window sills - one of the few spiders that operates in the colder months (though of late, it seems many other spiders are still active or have come out earlier than expected)
Zygiella x-notata distribution

[Dogghound]

Cheers Venger.

Yes i found this individual in my conservatory. Its actively hunting too, which is always great to watch.

[Venger]

Probably looking for somewhere to build a new web - as you guessed its a web builder rather than a 'roam around hunting' spider.

[Meta menardi]

It is almost certainly Zygiella x-notata, they are around all year and the web is very distinctive. One segment will be missing and you will find that a line of silk will extend to the "lair" of the spid. It is a female, the males are sort of a twinkle in an egg sac at this time of year, most likely.

I am surprised that you say she is hunting, the eye sight of web spiders is usually poor as they rely on the web and feed-back from the web to capture.

[Dogghound]

Yes had a small web. Although moved on since, possibly outside. Cheers for the help.

How big do these grow? similar to Araneus diadematus? also how do these species interact? As there is always a good population of these in the garden also often several Gibbaranea gibbosa are present. How do they all interact? is there dominance or do they just avoid each other?
cheers

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

I am surprised that you say she is hunting, the eye sight of web spiders is usually poor as they rely on the web and feed-back from the web to capture.

Was in a small web. Not physically hunting. Cheers for this info.

[Venger]

Zygiella x-notata grows to about 7 mm for females, & about 5mm for males.
Araneus diadematus is quite a lot larger growing to about 18mm for females and 8mm for males.
They aren't social and will more likely avoid each other (well A.diadematus and G.gibbosa share similar habitats). Z.x-notata uses a different habitat - window frames , fences and such.

[Dogghound]

Thankyou for this info Venger.