Metellina segmentata is a spider in the family Tetragnathidae with a Palaearctic distribution. This spiders name is often shortened to Meta segmentata, and some even call it Araneus segmentatus simply meaning, orb weaving spiders. It is primarily found in Europe, with the highest number in the United Kingdom, but the species has also been introduced to Canada.
Adults can be found from August to October, and they prefer open habitats on the edges of woods or gardens), likely because they are amongst the most frequent orb-weaving spiders.
Similar to most tetragnathid spiders, the web has no threads at its center, and they are built relatively low above the ground. Most of the time, the spider sits at the center of the web, but sometimes they retreat to hide at the edge and sense prey with the help of a signaling thread.
Metellina segmentata has yellow, red, and orange colors on their abdomen with a black fork-like mark in the center of the carapace. Its topside is a pale cream color with shades of red and pink. However, as is the case with many other spider species, there are large variations in its colors and markings. On the underside of females, there is a black strip that extends to the end of the epigyne. When they are resting on grass, two legs stretch to the front while the other six legs stretch backward. Males are normally 4-6 mm long while females are slightly larger 4-8 mm long. They have a very similar appearance to Metallina mengei, and the only sure way of identification is by looking at the genitalia.
Males tend to have longer legs and a bigger prosoma, but females have a larger opisthosoma because the eggs are produced and carried in this organ. Both genders, but especially females, have powerful chelicerae. Compared to other spiders, the Metellina segmentata have abnormally large epigynes.
Metellina segmentata are primarily found in the United Kingdom within Europe. They have also been recently identified in Canada.
These spiders are known to prefer low, bushy habitats, although some occupy areas heavily covered in branches and leaves that offer extra protection. The habitats of the spiders generally depend on the size. The bigger spiders will reside in higher quality areas that have good lighting and decent wind passage. This includes in between tree branches and on leaves. Smaller spiders will be forced into lower quality areas. These include window corners and bushes where lighting and prey capture is relatively low.
Metellina segmentata are able to produce venom. After catching prey in their webs, the spiders deliver the venom by holding the prey in their pedipalps. However, this venom is not poisonous to humans. There have been no known cases of a Metellina Segmentata biting human being despite their prevalence in human-populated areas.
The diet of Metellina segmentata consists of insects, including flies and moths. After these prey are caught in the webs, they are wrapped and most commonly are eaten almost immediately. Some M. segmentata spiders can and do choose to preserve their wrapped prey for several days. Interestingly, it has been observed that some female spiders have cannibalize males in their webs. Metellina segmentata can go weeks without eating, which occurs especially in males during the mating season.
Foraging behavior and the location of web creation varies greatly within M. segmentata. For example, some spiders create their webs in low bushy areas that are open, and there is a lot of wind eddies. This allows the webs to capture a wide variety and high quantity of food. However, these webs are also at higher risk of being destroyed. Therefore, although webs in these areas are able to capture a higher volume of food within a shorter time frame, spiders who reside in these areas must rebuilt their webs fairly frequently. Other M. segmentata will choose to spin their webs in areas where there is more protection. This leads to lower web breakages, but may also cost them to catch less prey. Depending on the location of the web, the number of prey captured can vary by up to ten fold. Naturally, female spiders tend to accumulate in areas with high prey yields. It has been observed that when prey capture goes below a certain threshold, many spiders will choose to move to areas that yield greater prey capture.
During the mating season in September several males wait for prey in the web of a female. When an insect is caught, all of the males compete for it. The first male will wrap it up and then present it to the female. While he is presenting he will also give signals by plucking the threads of the female's web. The yellow eggs are deposited on a twig or on bark in a spherical white cocoon. This process is very similar to the slightly smaller Metellina mengei, and the two can only be discerned by comparing genital features.
