Spider for ID please

[INHT]

Saw this huge beauty on the moors today on Islay, Inner Hebrides. It's beautiful. Had a silken home near its massive web. Any ideas what it is please?
Thanks,
Becky

[Hedera]

It's a Garden spider - Araneus diadematus. they come in various colours and shades, but always have those crosses on their back. That's a real beauty you found!

[MattPrince]

Agree with Hedera, not only is it a. diadematus, but your example is a real sweet one, they are variable, but this one is darker than any I've personally seen.

Makes me wonder if there are any national clades in colour, or habitat related shifts in the general ground colour. The default in the south west is a warm gingery colour.

Cheers,
Matt

[MattPrince]

Islay eh...

Maybe I need to come up and check them out, was it near any of the distilleries?

[INHT]

Thanks guys. Matt, it wasn't near any of the distilleries, but there seem to be a few things (moths, for example) that are darker or lighter here than elsewhere so the spider's not unique in that! It was a beauty. i'm a bit disappointed it's got a boring name like Garden Spider. I'm sure I've never seen one with such a big, brightly coloured body before.

[MattPrince]

I agree, its other name 'cross orbweaver' isn't better - makes it sound like its mad

Worse is the treatment for poor "nuctenea umbratica" a related, flatter, darker beast that only emerges at night-time, its latin name means 'living in the shadows' and its common name "Walnut Orb-weaver" - bletch!

You could always try remembering the latin, diadematus refers to the distinctive cross markings, which makes this critter very distinctive, and everyone will think you are a spider expert

Cheers,
Matt

[nikolai_avenger]

Originally Posted by MattPrince

Makes me wonder if there are any national clades in colour, or habitat related shifts in the general ground colour. The default in the south west is a warm gingery colour.

Cheers,
Matt

I often wonder about this myself. Here in the East Midlands (Erewash & Trent Valleys) there seem to be several shades ranging from grey, through brown (ish), to bright red/orange. I find more of the grey coloured specimens on things like leylandii etc.. The orange ones tend to stick to window frames/fences etc.

I have, however, only ever found brown-orange coloured males!

Cheers. Nik.

[wilippa]

The a. diadematus in my garden (Oxford) tend to be an orange brown colour. There's a large lady currently living on my potted lavender plant, eating bees - or at least she was at the weekend. Perhaps I should pay her a visit and see what she's munching on at the moment