Genus - Atypus
Female - 10-15mm (upto 18mm including jaws/ chelicerae)
Male - 7-9mm (upto 12mm including jaws/ chelicerae)
Female
Extra Mural Cemetery
Brighton, East Sussex
12.11.2011
Male
Extra Mural Cemetery
Brighton, East Sussex
13.11.2011
Newly hatched Spiderlings
Extra Mural Cemetery, Brighton
30.03.12
Graeme Lyons of the Sussex Wildlife Trust informed me
that Purse Web Spiders have been observed at Woodvale
Crematorium/ Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery. I went to investigate
and soon discovered these empty webs. Credit goes to Derek Smith for
spotting the first one. We observed Magpie's digging around in the chalky
grass verges so maybe they are the culprits digging out the Spiders?
These amazing creatures live upto a depth of 50cm, rushing up to
grab it's prey and pulling it through the web then repairing the 'Purse'
after devouring it's catch.
This one was just lying on the grass. I have seen these before
but didn't know what they were.
28/09/2010
I didn't find any Purse Web Spiders but I now know
where they live and what to look for!
.......................
Purse Web Spider Update:
Found my first Purse Web Spider today! Very exciting!
Hanging out on a South facing flint wall in Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery.
Purse Web spiders belong to the same sub-order
(Orthognatha / Mygalomorphae) as Tarantulas, Funnel Web Spiders
and Trap-Door Spiders.
Purse Web Spider (Male)
05/10/2010
Click HERE for a Video on YouTube
..........
Second Purse Web Spider sighting!
As surpirised as I was to find one Purse Web Spider,
I was shocked to bump into another one, less than one week later!
Same venue, different site.
South-facing chalky soil verge.
11/10/2010
This fella was charging about, almost doing figure eights, around a gravestone.
It was easier to film him as he was so active.
Second Video on Youtube HERE
Graeme Lyons and myself went back the following day, no sign of the
Spiders but we found a new verge with many 'discarded' purse entrances
just strewn about the place.
Discarded Purse Webs. Dug up by Crows and Magpies?
Or caught in a lawn mower?
Different site again.
Brighton Extra Mural Graveyard
17/10/2010
..........
Purse Web Spider update!
I spent 3.5 hours scanning for Purse Web Spiders today.
I was just about to give up and was on the only south-facing
verge that I hadn't looked at before when all of a sudden this
beautiful specimen appeared! It's a Female Atypus affinis!
I never expected to see a Female wandering about so I feel very lucky!
I alerted Graeme Lyons from SWT and he rushed over to view her.
He managed to get some amazing shots of her chelicerae/ jaws.
See Graeme's Blog HERE.
I was tempted to pick her up but when she bit down on a twig
that Graeme was holding I changed my mind!
Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
22/10/2010
Click HERE for a video of her on Youtube.
I went back to the same verge and she was there again -
I spotted her as she rolled down the verge - seemed extra clumsy today.
I couldn't resist holding her so I went for it, raised my pulse a bit!
Real weighty Spider!
Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
25/10/2010
Click HERE for a video of her on Youtube.
I spotted her as she rolled down the verge - seemed extra clumsy today.
I couldn't resist holding her so I went for it, raised my pulse a bit!
Real weighty Spider!
Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
25/10/2010
..........
I observed two Female Atypus affinis at this same site today,
both were under the same Grave. This is the first time I have
tried out my new Camera - Nikon Coolpix 4500.
Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
31/10/2010
Viewty Lite + 30x Pocket Magnifier
31/10/2010
Video of 2nd Female Atypus affinis HERE
Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
02/11/2010
Atypus affinis Female No.1 (Deceased)
Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
07/11/2010
I have found two dead females now. I'm wondering if, once
they have bred and made their coccoons underground, do they vacate
the Purse Web?
I found this Male Atypus affinis walking around in the rain.
He's the second Male I have found with a leg missing, a result of mating?
Downs Crematorium Cemetery
Brighton
14/11/2010
Newly molted Female Atypus
I found a site of a large colony.
I lifted a stone and her whole nest came up with it.
She was sat with her Exuvia.
Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery
29.06.2011
I am very happy to have found another Atypus colony.
I observed 5 nests in a two metre stretch along the edge of a wall. Glynde Village
East Sussex
04.10.2011
Brighton
28.10.2011
Extra Mural Cemetery
Brighton, East Sussex
12.11.2011
Extra Mural Cemetery
Brighton, East Sussex
13.11.2011
