Well done All Saints' Church, Chevington, Suffolk. It's great that, on the display board in the churchyard, a Marbled Orb-weaver gets a special mention. For those interested in their churchyard management project here is the link www.achurchnearyou.com/church/1908/...
@britishspiders.bsky.social
The pseudoscorpion Chthonius ischnocheles: image thanks to Alan Thornhill.
The pseudoscorpion Pselaphochernes scorpioides: image thanks to Alan Thornhill.
The pseudoscorpion Neobisium carcinoides: image thanks to Alan Thornhill
The pseudoscorpion Roncus lubricus: image thanks to Alan Thornhill
Not #spiders but #Pseudoscorpions, mini-marvels of the #arachnid world. For more information on their quirky lives, see our factsheet 8 at britishspiders.org.uk/factsheets.
Daddy Long-legs Spider Pholcus phalangioides with wrapped Woodlouse Spider Dysdera crocata prey
A Daddy Long-legs Spider Pholcus phalangioides showing off its amazing predatorial skills by silk-wrapping the rear end of a Woodlouse Spider Dysdera crocata while keeping well clear of its formidable jaws. For more info on both species see our Factsheets 3 and 17 at britishspiders.org.uk/factsheets
Yes, if I showed all the pictures I've got of A redii, non arachnologists would never believe they were all the same species
Gorse orb weaver
A spider for Halloween, but not a scary one. It's a rather attractive Gorse Orbweaver (Agalenatea redii) I found today near Mildenhall, Suffolk. @britishspiders.bsky.social #arachtober
It was the first I've seen since I was a kid (more years ago than I like to mention)
Do the three species get on well together?
I only found two Steatoda albomaculata at Lackford Lakes yesterday (12 June) and their markings and colouration were quite different. @britishspiders.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social
Zilla diodia is easy to find at present in the countryside of West Suffolk, or the part that I live in at least. Here is a selection of ones in the local hedgerows. @britishspiders.bsky.social
Heliophanus sp with chironomid midge
Fencepost jumper, Marpissa muscosa, with bibionid fly. On a fencepost appropriately
Pardosa monticola with egg sac
Male Xysticus (probably erraticus) on fence post
I couldn't find the spider I was looking for today #lackfordlakes in Suffolk, but these were adequate compensation
We'll definitely have you. I tried to organise a meetup this week but it wasn't suitable for several people. I'll have another go after Easter. I'm not sure who'll join in but Brian has attended all so far. I'll need an email address to send the invite out to
Yes, still living in Suffolk but unlike you I'm fully retired. However, I help the Br Arach Soc with their accounts on Bluesky and X. I'm still in touch with several from SB, inlcuding Brian, and occasionally we all meet up on Zoom.
Wow, it's only known UK site is one cave
Is it found in just one cave on the island?
Politicians seem keener on proportional representation when they're in opposition, but tend to forget about it when they're in power.
Anyway, it's nice to find out what ex-SBers are doing nowadays. Hope you're well.
That's really sad to read. A mainstay of arachnology.
I looked at the epigyne under the microscope (whilst it was alive) but didn't think it looked more like pubescens that the other Drassodes. But I didn't want to put it in alcohol.
Thanks. It was adult and, if I remember correctly, just over 7mms long. But I didn't want to kill it just to examine the epigyne more closely.
male Alopecosa barbipes
female Drassodes, probably pubescens.
As @britishspiders.bsky.social have pointed out, some spiders are still active in December. This male Alopecosa barbipes and female Drassodes (probably pubescens) were caught in pitfalls on Suffolk breckland in the past few days. (Both were released after being photographed). #winterspider
