Metellina segmentata
Autumn spider ( Metellina segmentata )
The autumn spider ( Metellina segmentata, syn. Meta segmentata ) is the most common and widespread in Central Europe species of the genus of spiders autumn ( Metellina ).
Description
The females of M. segmentata reach a body length of 6.5 to 9 mm, the males 6 to 7.5 mm. The front body ( prosoma ) is yellowish to light brown with protruding eyes hills and a Y-shaped, longitudinal black drawing. The elongated backwards oval tapering abdomen is yellowish, greenish or reddish brown with a diffuse sheet drawing. The distinction between the very similar and equally variable, but something in Central Europe rarer type Metellina mengei is possible only on the basis of genital characteristics.
Distribution and habitat
The autumn spider inhabited almost all open and semi-open habitats of the lowlands of the Palearctic. It inhabits mainly the herb layer, the shrub layer but also on forest edges, hedgerows or gardens.
Way of life
The adult animals are particularly active in the fall (August to October) and then occur in individuals very rich. They build relatively small, oblique to horizontal orb webs hung with 20 to 25 spokes. The threads in the middle are bitten out after completion so that an open hub is formed.
Often wait several much smaller male in the vicinity of the network of the female until the female is willing to mate. In order not to be seen as prey, courting and copulating, the male only when the female is busy eating. To this end, the male bites already as stock Webbed booty from the net of the female and hands it to the same females as a bridal gift. Mating takes a few minutes. The eggs overwinter in the cocoon.
The females sometimes fall spiders of the genus Ero ( Mimetidae ) victim: Ero mimics the male Zupfsignale to the Balzfäden of the orb web of M. segmentata and attracts this so off the grid, where it is captured by Ero.
Endangering
The species is widespread and common in suitable habitats. It is classified as " safely " in Germany in the Red List.