Metellina segmentata is a spider in the Tetragnathidae family with a Palaearctic distribution. It has also been introduced to Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

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Adults can be found from August to October. These spiders prefer open habitats (edges of a wood, or gardens) and are amongst the most frequent orb-weaving spiders.

The web has no threads at its center, similar to most tetragnathid spiders. Most webs are built low above the ground. The spider sits at the center during the day most of the time. Sometimes they hide at the edge and sense prey with the help of a signaling thread.

Reproduction

During the mating season in September several males wait for prey in the web of a female. When an insect gets caught, they all run for it. The first will wrap it up and then present it to the female, while it will 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.

It is very similar to the slightly smaller Metellina mengei

Metellina mengei

Metellina mengei is a spider of the Tetragnathidae family that is found in Europe up to Georgia. It was once considered a form of M. segmentata that occurs in spring. M. mengei is much rarer than M. segmentata.-Description:...

, and the two can only be discerned by comparing genital features.