Metellina

Metellina mengei

The genus of the autumn spider ( Metellina ) belongs to the family of the thick pine spiders. Autumn spiders build orb webs with an open hub in which resides the spider. The species of this genus have a more or less elongated abdomen with conspicuous yellowish- reddish drawing. It was formerly to the genus Meta and the " family" of Strecker spiders. Metidae was formerly also a family name; later, she was regarded as a sub- family of thick pine spiders. The genus Metellina comprises 8 species worldwide.

In Central Europe very common and widespread is the autumn spider Metellina segementata. M. segmentata ( formerly Meta segmentata or meta reticulata ) colonized almost all excessively humid habitats of the lowlands outside the cities.

Less common is Metellina mengei, mainly in spruce forests and also in the hill country ( collin to montane ) in the spring to meet / early summer. Very rare but widespread Metellina is merianae. It occurs almost exclusively in caves, cellars or crevices of rocks and walls near streams before. She loves high humidity and is concentrated mainly in the spring. Your network is eccentrically shaped and has more tentacles than in the upper part of the lower portion. It is also hung over waters and deserted Dachsbaue inputs. Coloring and drawing the abdomen are variable and therefore no safe particulars.

Worldwide, the genus currently be attributed to the following types:

• Metellina curtisi (McCook, 1894) - North America
• Metellina kirgisica ( Bakhvalov, 1974) - Central Asia
• Metellina mengei ( Blackwall, 1870) - Europe to Georgia
• Metellina merianae ( Scopoli, 1763) - Europe to Georgia
• Metellina merianae celata ( Blackwall, 1841) - Europe
• Metellina mimetoides ( Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941) - North America
• Metellina orientalis ( Spassky, 1932) - Central Asia
• M. segmentata ( Clerck, 1757) - Palaearctic and introduced in Canada