Arachnerds: September 2011

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Megabunus diadema

Harvestmen are not Spiders but relatives.

    They belong to the Arachnid order Opiliones.
    Their bodies are fused into one unit.
    Harvestmen have two eyes. They do not produce silk.
    They ambush small insects and will even eat rotten vegetable matter.

Friston Forest
16.03.2011

Nemastoma bimaculatum

Harvestmen are not Spiders but relatives.

Dulwich Woods
11.04.2011

Dicranopalpus ramosus

    Harvestmen are not Spiders but relatives.
    They belong to the Arachnid order Opiliones.
    Their bodies are fused into one unit.
    Harvestmen have two eyes. They do not produce silk.
    They ambush small insects and will even eat rotten vegetable matter.

    Mote Park
    Maidstone
    Kent
    09.09.2011

    With Mite
    Kingley Vale Nature Reserve
    West Sussex
    07.09.2011

    On a gate, heading down to the Sea
    Cuckmere Haven
    East Sussex
    08.10.2011

Larinioides sclopetarius

    Family - Araneidae
    Genus - Larinioides
Velvety appearance makes this Spider distinguishable from other
    four European species. Found near water on bridges, buildings and fences.

   Thanks to Peter Harvey BAS for Id.
   Mote Park
   Maidstone
   Kent
   09.09.2011

    Dulwich Park
    London
    30.09.2011

    Larinioides sclopetarius (?)
    Pevensey Marshes
    Sussex Wildlife Nature Reserve
    East Sussex
    20.08.2011

Larinioides sclopetarius (?)
Found along the Estuary.

Cuckmere Haven
02.08.2011

Tibellus sp.

    Family - Thomisidae
    Genus - Tibellus
    Two UK species. A type of Crab Spider. Elongated appearance.
    Known as Grass Spiders, where they lie in wait and ambush their prey.

    Wildlife Nature Reserve
    Tattershall Road
    Lincolnshire
    17.09.2011

    Old Lodge Nature Reserve
    Ashdown Forest
    East Sussex
    13.09.2011

Neriene montana

Family - Linyphiidae
Genus - Neriene

Females
Stanmer Park, Brighton, East Sussex
21.04.2011

    Male
    Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
    06.05.2011

    Kingley Vale Nature Reserve
    West Sussex
    16.02.2011

Labulla thoracica

Family - Linyphiidae
Genus - Labulla
One European Species. Males easily identified by very large palps.

    Male
    Cox's Walk
    Sydenham Hill
    Dulwich Wood
    London
    14.09.2011

    Male
    Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
    13.10.2011

    I think this is a Female Labulla thoracica
    Kingley Vale Nature Reserve
    West Sussex
    07.09.2011

Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
09/11/2010

    Extra Mural Cemetery
    Brighton
    August 2010

Monday 12 September 2011

Neoscona adianta

    Family - Araneidae
    Genus - Neoscona
    Single European Species
A new find for me. She didn't give up her lunch and continued
    consuming it when I put her back on her Silken platform.

   Mote Park
   Maidstone
   Kent
   09.09.2011

Nigma walckenaeri

    Family - Dictynidae
    Genus - Nigma
Another new find for me.

Many thanks to Peter Harvey of the BAS for Id :
    'Very restricted distribution in Britain. Maidstone looks as though it
    might be a new extension to its currently known range.
Almost certainly an adult female at this time of year.
It matures in late summer and autumn.'
    http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Nigma+walckenaeri