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British Arachnological Society

@britishspiders.bsky.social

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The British Arachnological Society (BAS) is the UK’s only body devoted exclusively to the study of arachnids (spiders, harvestmen & pseudoscorpions): https://britishspiders.org.uk. To record GB spiders, please use https://irecord.org.uk/enter-srs-records.

britishspiders.org.uk.

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · Jan 26

In bookshops from 30th January and available now on pre-order, @rlewington2.bsky.social's authoritative and exquisitely illustrated new @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social pocket guide to Britain's commonest and most easily recognizable spiders. Highly recommended! #spiders #arachnology

The cover of Richard Lewington's new pocket guide to British spiders - illustrated with a Wasp Spider

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webbyjameshere.bsky.social @webbyjameshere.bsky.social · 18h

@britishspiders.bsky.social Any ideas what this little one might be? Living on my windowsill (coincidentally amongst my spider plants) with forays onto the kitchen walls or the washing up from where I have to rescue it 🙈😄 Is it a spiderling of something bigger? Still images below. #spider

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 18h

Unfortunately, the video and the still images don’t show details e.g. eye arrangement, habitus, abdominal pattern etc. that we’d need to narrow down the options. It’s not a spiderling but could be an immature.

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John Boorman @johnboorman.bsky.social · 1d

Garden wildlife. 1/2. A couple of Amaurobius similis on the fence last night. I thought one was a male (1st image and top one in the video in 2/2) and the other a female, but that also seems to have palps. I've been advised that that one, and with its back legs moving, is web building.

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John Boorman @johnboorman.bsky.social · 1d

Garden wildlife. Garden spider (Araneus diadematus). @britishspiders.bsky.social #londonwildlife

A spider with grey/brown patterning and white marks resembling a cross, sitting on a leaf, and with one of its back legs touching a strand of its web, and which will alert it to any prey getting trapped.

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Tegwyn @arachnoteg.bsky.social · 1d

A suprise find, plus a new species for me today #Aractober First noticed the distinctive web, exactly as described. Quick look and there they were... Badumna longinqua. Lots of webs in the Barry B&M, guessing another location for S.Wales. @britishspiders.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk @cofnod.org.uk

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Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

@britishspiders.bsky.social Would this be an immature Theridiosoma gemmosum? I'm staying clear of the immatures really, but I seem to recall being shown this by Ty, the shape seems rights and the huge immature palps.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 1d

Harvestman Odiellus spinosus hanging out in a flower pot with a snail and a woodlouse (not sure of their species)… #hatvestmen @britishspiders.bsky.social

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Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

Ero cambridgei - a new one to me and the last of the pirate spiders ticked off. New hand gel has arrived - it's so thick, I use just a dab to hold the palp in place and then cover in the glycerin/IMS - it isn't entirely invisible but better than vaseline. Some playing to be done. I have 6 bottles!

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Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

Wacky unicornis - two from Sundays efforts in the Wicken fens. I can't spell Walckenaeria. Or can I?

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 2d

#Arachtober is a good month to remind folk my book #SpidersAndHarvestmenOfYorkshire by @naturebureau.bsky.social ought to be available to purchase by the end of the month.

It’s not too late to get a pre-publication offer here: www.naturebureau.co.uk/spiders-harv...

@britishspiders.bsky.social

Spiders & Harvestmen of Yorkshire – An Atlas naturebureau.co.uk

NatureBureau - one company, two passions. NatureBureau is a design and ecological consultancy, established more than 30 years ago. We combine ecological expertise with a distinctive style in graphic d...

www.naturebureau.co.uk

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Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 2d

Another from Wicken - these appear to have the same epigyne, but I think maybe they aren't yet mature females. I'm sure @tylanberry.bsky.social told me what they were but I can't recall. I'm wondering @britishspiders.bsky.social do the Tm ratios and spines work for immature linnys?

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John Boorman @johnboorman.bsky.social · 2d

Garden wildlife. 1/3. @britishspiders.bsky.social Some other spiders and a harvestman from last night on the shed, house and fence. First a couple of Anyphaena numidas, followed by a Zygiella x-notata, then two Steatoda nobilis seemingly being quite friendly

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John Boorman @johnboorman.bsky.social · 2d

Garden wildlife. 1/3. Last night I found 10 Segestria florentinas! They are still all relatively close together, and 3 were in an area I'd not noticed or properly checked before on one side of the garage door frame.

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Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 3d

Clubiona subtilis palp. Yes, it's a funny angle but my home made gel isn't working so I've ordered some new (recommended) stuff. Had a fabulous time on the @britishspiders.bsky.social field weekend, but most of what I bought home is immature, so i'm not going to provide much to the list.

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 3d

Lovely autumnal colours, there Andy! Your list contributions are coming on well, thank you - look forward to the remainder once you've ID'd them. Great to have you with us this w/e.

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Tegwyn @arachnoteg.bsky.social · 3d

Another Harvestman for today's #Aractober. This time Dicranopalpus cf ramosus with it's distinctive forked palps and resting leg position. If you want to find out more info visit harvestmen.fscbiodiversity.uk

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April Peters @plantjunkie2.bsky.social · 3d

Teaching him that's spiders are beautiful. Sharing a book with grandad 📖🕷️

#Shropshire #UKnature #UKwildlife #wildlivesmatter @britishspiders.bsky.social #Spiders #books #sundaysleepover

Showing our little man that spiders are nothing to be scared of. Britain's Spiders . A Field Guide.
Reading with grandad.

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Shreyas Kuchibhotla @snake-spider-et-al.bsky.social · 3d

D is for Dysdera (Dysderidae), the iconic woodlouse spiders
and E for Euryopis (Theridiidae) - master ant-hunters

@britishspiders.bsky.social

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Shreyas Kuchibhotla @snake-spider-et-al.bsky.social · 3d

Don't know if I'll have time for a daily #arachtober find this year, so I'll go with an A-Z of genera instead.

A for Amyciaea (Thomisidae), an ant-mimic
B for Bijoaraneus (Araneidae) - 'kidney garden spider'
C for Corinnomma (Corinnidae), another ant-mimic

@britishspiders.bsky.social

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Tegwyn @arachnoteg.bsky.social · 4d

#Aractober. Today it's a harvestman, L.blackwalli (correct me if wrong pls) Only about 30 species in the UK. One fused body part, many have long thing legs, 2 eyes and no silk.

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 4d

Agreed, that was a bit disappointing, but it did include an epic wetsuit shot (in an epic raised mire).

British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 4d

Talk time at our Wicken Fen field meeting, with Richard Gallon on how to look for spiders in the variety of GB habitats and the one and only Graeme Lyons on the how and why of #PanSpeciesListing

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 4d

Out of the wind and into the microscopy - Critically Endangered in GB, Zora armillata has to be the species of the day.

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 4d

Wonderful Water Spiders Argyroneta aquatica were one of the stars of our Wicken Fen meeting today - 'lifers' for many

joemyers2k.bsky.social @joemyers2k.bsky.social · 4d

A quick video of an Argyroneta aquatica replenishing it's oxygen from its underwater web. @britishspiders.bsky.social

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 4d

A positive harvest festival of #spiders at Wicken Fen NNR for our field meeting today in the teeth of #StormAmy

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