Cucumber Green Orb Spider - Araniella cucurbitina
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Species Description
Widespread and fairly frequent but patchy throughout the UK, being locally common where it does occur. It is probably under-recorded. Habitat includes: woodland edge, hedgerows, scrub, gardens, parks, allotments, churchyards etc. Seen: Spring to Autumn. Length: Male = 5 mm, Female = 8 mm.
ID:
A. cucurbitina:
- 1-4 pairs of black dots on abdomen sides (excluding the middle ‘dots’), males 3-4 spines on the underside of femur I.
- Conspicuous red spot above spinnerets, visible only from below. Male femur I with ventral median part lacking bristles (regularly 3 bristles basally, 1 bristle distally). Females difficult to identify as this species with certainty. Hybrids with Araniella opisthographa may occur.
A. opisthographa:
- 5 pairs of black dots on abdomen sides (excluding the middle ‘dots’), males 7-8 spines on the underside of femur I.
- Male femur I with with 7, rarely 8 bristles distributed on whole length. Females difficult to identify as this species with certainty. Hybrids with Araniella cucurbitina may occur.