Metellina merianae (Scopoli, 1763)
Metellina merianae is a widespread orb-weaving spider which prefers dark habitats, such as cave entrances, tunnels and hollow trees etc. The adults we have found have all been much darker than Metellina segmentata and M. mengei, but sub-adults (bottom right photograph) do seem to show more colouration. Having said that, the adults are still very well marked.
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Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of Metellina merianae
 
 
 
 
The records for the Nottinghamshire distribution map are currently provided by the following contributors - Trevor and Dilys Pendleton. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Meg Skinner. Sherwood Forest Invertebrate Directory 2014. Stuart Warrington. The National Trust (Clumber Park invertebrate records). Tony Kavanagh. David Shaw. Brian Wetton.

You can contribute your own records to help us gain an accurate status of this species in Nottinghamshire. Send an Excel spreadsheet of your records via the 'contact us' link at the top of the homepage.

Updated January 2024
copyright © Trevor and Dilys Pendleton (www.eakringbirds.com) . .
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