Allotments 4 All

Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: Georgie on June 02, 2008, 16:41:51

Title: Spider identification
Post by: Georgie on June 02, 2008, 16:41:51
Can anyone recommend a good website for identifying British spiders please?  I've tried Google but most of the hits were not very comprehensive.  Thanks.   :)

G x
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Hyacinth on June 02, 2008, 16:57:38
....so I, too,  googled (as you would ;D)....and played about with words, cos the family is so v.v.large....like you, can't come across a definitive on-line reference, tho Collins seem to do books of garden & house spiders in the UK/N.Europe...actually, like my bird books, a nice thing to read and have - a novel(!) change from staring at a screen? But all that's not going to help you, is it?
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Julia on June 02, 2008, 16:59:34
Not sure how to insert a link.  But here goes:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/gallery/browseimages.php?c=30
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Georgie on June 02, 2008, 17:08:16
Quote from: Alishka_Maxwell on June 02, 2008, 16:57:38
....so I, too,  googled (as you would ;D)....and played about with words, cos the family is so v.v.large....like you, can't come across a definitive on-line reference, tho Collins seem to do books of garden & house spiders in the UK/N.Europe...actually, like my bird books, a nice thing to read and have - a novel(!) change from staring at a screen? But all that's not going to help you, is it?

Thanks for trying.  Yes, I saw the Collins book and am tempted, I've got quite a collection of specialist wildlife books so one more won't hurt will it?   ;D

Quote from: Julia on June 02, 2008, 16:59:34
Not sure how to insert a link.  But here goes:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/gallery/browseimages.php?c=30

Thanks Julia.  I've already looked at that site but I can't find the spider I'm trying to identify on there.   :(

G x
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Georgie on June 02, 2008, 20:26:47
I've been out to have another look at my spider and this is the best description I can come up with.  It's sitting in a web about 25-30cm in diameter in my Passiflora.  (I have no idea if any of that is relevant!)  It has an apple green body with two bold yellowish stripes on either side and looks a bit like a Nasturtium seed.  The body is about 1cm long, the head is reddish brown and the front two pairs of legs are about twice as long as the back two pairs.  Any ideas?

G x
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Julia on June 02, 2008, 21:59:54
Have printed off your last comment.  I have a neighbour who works for a local animal ambulance.  Will ask him later on this week.
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Georgie on June 02, 2008, 22:01:40
Quote from: Julia on June 02, 2008, 21:59:54
Have printed off your last comment.  I have a neighbour who works for a local animal ambulance.  Will ask him later on this week.

Oh thanks, that's great.   ;D

G x
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: redimp on June 02, 2008, 22:09:32
Have you tried: http://greatbritishspiders.tripod.com/ ?
I think you will want Orb weavers if the web you are describing looks like a typical web.
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: redimp on June 02, 2008, 22:12:56
How about this one:
(http://greatbritishspiders.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/greenorbweaveraraniellacucurbinata074.jpg)
Green Orb Weaver
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: ceres on June 02, 2008, 22:15:44
Image is copyright so can only post link:


http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/photos/img2213.htm (http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/photos/img2213.htm)
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: redimp on June 02, 2008, 22:16:40
Snap! ;D
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: ceres on June 02, 2008, 22:18:46
AKA cucumber spider!  But is it Georgie's spider?????
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Georgie on June 02, 2008, 22:36:10
Sorry, thanks for your efforts but that doesn't look right at all.   :(  My spider is a much brighter green with very distinctive stripes.

G x
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 02, 2008, 23:36:39
I'm sure I've seen it, but I don't have a spider book unfortunately. Do you have a decent reference library locally?
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Julia on June 03, 2008, 19:01:22
I've been to see the neighbour and he has lent me a book.  Also given me a list of latin names to what it could be.

First of all, we need to know whether the body is round or elongated?
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Georgie on June 03, 2008, 19:53:44
Quote from: Julia on June 03, 2008, 19:01:22
I've been to see the neighbour and he has lent me a book.  Also given me a list of latin names to what it could be.

First of all, we need to know whether the body is round or elongated?

Elongated, but only just.   :)

G x
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Julia on June 03, 2008, 22:11:15
Without a picture, can only come up with tetragnathidae (various colours available) and micrommata (virescens)-female. 
Title: Re: Spider identification
Post by: Georgie on June 04, 2008, 20:08:43
Hmmm...not sure.  Could be the latter but in most of the pics I've seen they have green heads too.  Looks like I'm going to have to get a book. 

G x