Britain`s Spiders – A Field Guide (WILDGuides of Britain & Europe, 21)

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Britain’s only subaquatic spider is reddish brown and grey, streaked, but appears silver because of an air bubble over its abdomen. It makes an air-filled silk-stranded diving bell in pond and stream weeds. Head and body 15mm. False widow ( Steatoda nobilis) According to the National History Museum, the false widow spider was first recorded in Britain in the 1870s, 'likely a stowaway on cargo ships from its native Madeira and Canary Islands.'/Credit: Getty Large house spider ( Tegenaria species) males start to move around seeking out more sedentary females. Although more commonly seen inside houses, they live perfectly happily outdoors too. Earlier in the year zebra spiders ( Salticus scenicus) lurk on sunny fences and walls. These are jumping spiders that leap on their prey rather than ensnaring them in webs. They have excellent binocular vision and can estimate how far away the prey is before pouncing.

Now in a comprehensively revised and updated new edition, Britain’s Spiders is a guide to all 38 British families, focussing on spiders that can be identified in the field. Illustrated with photographs, it is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, including those new to spider identification.Every issue, The English Garden magazine features the most beautiful gardens from all across the UK and Ireland - both town and country plots, big and small. Inside, you will find invaluable practical advice from real gardeners, plantspeople and designers. There’s stunning photography from the world’s top garden photographers, as well as insightful writing from experts. What can you tell us about the different kinds of webs that can be found in the UK and the species that they indicate? Jones, D. 1983. The Country Life guide to spiders of Britain and northern Europe. Littlehampton: Littlehampton Book Services Ltd. Out of print.

A large brown or grey spider with a leg span of up to 8cm. It chevron marked body maybe an impressive 16mm (incl head). It makes an untidy web with tubular retreat behind furniture or loose skirting, but also under logs and in hollow trees – its original habitat. Can scuttle up to 50cm per second. Zebra spider ( Salticus scenicus) The zebra spider uses its four pairs of large eyes to locate prey and its jumping ability to pounce and capture it. The scientific name, Salticus scenius, means 'theatrical jumper'/Credit: Getty Coupling this tendency with their large body and menacing green eyes, it makes for quite the intimidating-looking insect. Britain's Spiders: A Field Guide (Wild Guides) Second Edition - This is a guide to all 38 of the British families, focussing on spiders that can be identified in the field. Illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs, it is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, including those new to spider identification.How about the centuries-old method of using conkers to repel spiders? There's no evidence to say it works. There are many pesticide sprays that you can use to kill insects and spiders but we would not recommend the use of chemicals. At night, try not to leave windows open in rooms where lights are on – these attract insects, which then attract spiders. There are around 650 species of spider in the UK, ranging from those with a leg span of just a couple of millimetres, to the 12cm leg span of the cardinal spider. Spiders are predators, and they use an impressive pair of fangs to catch prey, and to introduce venom. All spiders have fangs but not all spiders have fangs that are able to pierce human skin. Consequently, there are relatively few UK species that are able to bite us in any meaningful way. Autumn is the best season to appreciate spiders, when seasonal dew turns garden webs into a glittering display.

S. nobilis has been in Britain for over a century, probably after being introduced in ship cargo from the Canary Islands or Madeira. The species has been expanding its range north in Britain since first establishing itself on the south coast. Hine says that part of the increase in sightings is due to greater numbers and wider distribution, but also because people are more aware of them. This interesting insect, known as the Lace-Webbed Spider, is brown with yellowish marks on its abdomen. Make sure to keep your house as clean as possible to find as few spiders as possible. When is UK spider season?Huntsman spiders are renowned for the enormous size, with males able to achieve a leg span of between 25 to 30 centimetres. Is importation of foreign spiders into the UK a common occurrence? And are these species able to survive the winter?