id help please

[andy brown]

can you help with this please



Cheers

Andy

[Action_Man]

Quite possibly Metellina(sp), and maybe M.segmentata ...

[Geoff F]

It certainly looks like a typical female Meta segmenta. It is getting a bit late now for M. mengei but that can't be ruled out as a few may still be around and it is impossible to separate them from that angle.

[andy brown]

Thanks guys, for future ref what angles should it try to get fro positive id

Cheers

Andy

[Geoff F]

For most spiders, what you have taken is a good angle. However to separate Meta mengei and segmenta you need an underneath shot for females.

The black midline band extends further forwards with mengei.

For males you need a good close up shot of the metatarsus on either the first or second legs. M. mengei has rather long hairs while M. segmenta has a smooth leg (some very short hair) but don't get confused by the leg spines which occur on both species.

While these variations may be relatively easy for the experts (not me) it can take a bit of practice to recognise.