House spider by Gary Farmer
Now is the perfect time to go on a garden spider safari.
Spending another sunny weekend in lockdown, I have been moving rubble and piles of old timber around the garden and I was amazed by the number of spiders that I was disturbing while doing this. So, I decided to swap the lump hammer and spade for the camera and spider book and head out on a backyard spider safari.
Daddy longlegs spider by Gary Farmer
Some of the species are familiar as house invaders such as the hairy house spiders (Tegenaria species) which suddenly rush out when you turn over the wood they are hiding under. Most surprising has been the number of the gangly daddy long-legs spider (Pholcus phalangoides) that I have been finding. This species was originally thought to have been introduced to Britain in crates carrying wine from Europe. They lived in cellars for many years but have spread to houses right across the country now, hitching a lift inside furniture (there is probably one in the corner of your ceiling at the moment). I have not found them outside before so is this the result of climate change and milder winters?
Laceweb spider by Gary Farmer
By far the most endearing of the larger spiders in our garden are from the Amaurobius family, which are known as the lace-web spiders but I think they should be called teddy bear spiders. They are covered in soft dark fur and look positively cuddly in close up. You can find them on the back of pieces of rubble or wood and they don’t run, instead they tuck in and pretend they’re not there, eventually dropping to the ground where they play dead.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out in the garden and see if you can find an eight-legged teddy bear hiding in your rockery.
