[ID] Zygiella and Tetragnatha, please!

Jason Green · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 02:41 PM

Hi all,

Two for confirmation and ID, please!

28/09/2009

Is it Zygiella atrica?

This was found in my garden, but note the dark margin and left-right bar near the tip of the abdomen. Am I right?

30/09/2009

Tetragnatha extensa, or rarer T. striata?
Same individual. It's the underside of the abdomen that makes me think that. The pic on the right.

Thanks for reading!

Take care,

Jason

Geoff F · #2 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 08:03 PM

Like you, I'm not really sure on either of these; but as we are still waiting for an expert to appear . . .

The first specimen does seem like X. atrica although rather pale, so could it be a juvenile? My book says often found in gardens.

My first thoughts on the Tetragnatha are T. montana but I see what you mean about those faint pale marks on the underside. Was it near water though? T. striata appears to be a total 'water baby' and normally lives in very wet conditions.

Best wait for a more informed opinion though.

frits_b · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 03:03 PM

Z. atrica and x-notata are very difficult to distinguish, especially females (like this one). According to Locket and Millidge: "there is frequently a rusty red tinge to the anterior dark patches and in the edges of the folium [of Z. atrica]".

I have not heard of the dark cross-bar being a distinguishing feature. Where did you hear or read this? It would be nice to have such a relatively simple means to tell the species apart.