This morning was humid and cold, which caused dew to condense all over
my garden, making the observation of nature's favourite arachnids
particularly easy. Most of the webs in my garden seemed to be the
standard circular "orb webs". Their owners were usually to be found at
the centre or hiding under a leaf at the periphery:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/salimfadhley/268412176/in/set-72157594319823048/

But what about these other webs? The resemble a tangle of loose messy
fibres, suspended above a very tightly woven horizontal sheet. I
suppose a flying insect would become entangled in the loose fibres, and
then fall onto the sticky dense webs below. No matter how hard I looked
I couldnt find the spider that had created this bizarre "nest":

http://www.flickr.com/photos/salimfadhley/268411613/in/set-72157594319823048/

I had assumed that given the volume of web material must be as much or
greater than that of an orb-web then the spider must be of comprable
size. I had also hypothesized that one species of spider might be
building two types of web to catch different types of prey? Might this
web have been built by a number of smaller spiders? I am quite certain
that this web is not just the result of a colapse of a more ordered
structure.

hello Aolfo,

wonderful images, really impressed

for the first picture pair I propose "meta segmentata = m. reticulata =
automn spider

and regarding the net example I'll try to translate the description of
my available guide (2 propositions - I tend to the first one):

theridiidae / dictynae - irregular cover web, downwards sticking
threads, also sometimes irregular web inside plants with hiding place
near center
compare D. Jones: random web, often with retreat near top

linyphiidae - horizontally spun cover, braced from below, upwards in
most cases threads for trip wiring
compare D. Jones: hang inverted below sheet webs

cheers kauhl

Hi Adolpho,

I think the pictures of your orb spiders are all of Araneus
diadematus, The Garden Orb spider.
You probably have two different individuals, their colouring is
different, but that is within the normal variation for the species.
I'm pretty confident about the pattern of marks on the abdomen in the
shape of a crucifix. It's sometimes called the cross spider.

Kauhl's suggestion of Meta segmentata is also very variable but I'll
stick with A. diadematus.

And the 'messy web' one? There is always one! It was probably out
drinking the previous night. :-)
Could be Linyphia triangularis, a 'sheet web' spider.

A tangled mass of strands on its own without the sheet underneath,
would probably be spun by one of the 'comb footed' spiders.

Most spiders work on their own and are very territorial but some work
as a community and construct huge sprawling webs.

Spiders webs are usually unique to each species and an 'Expert' would
be able to make a stab at an identification without seeing the spider.