Wildlife Review 2025: Arachnids - Spiders, harvestman, pseudoscorpion and mites

The total site audit is 210 species, 163 of which are spiders, this year fifty-one spiders, six harvestman, one pseudoscorpion and nineteen mite species were recorded, with ten new species, eight spiders, one harvestman and one pseudoscorpion.

True Spiders (Araneae)
A slight increase in species from last year. Identification can be challenging; even relatively common species cannot be identified confidently without microscopic examination. With no detailed survey in recent years, these records come from field observations only.

Cellar spiders (Pholcidae)
A new species, Psilochorus simoni, a nationally uncommon spider was recorded in a golf course shed on 27th March. The much commoner Cobweb Spider Pholcus phalangioides AKA Daddy Long Legs noted in buildings from 14th June.

Tubeweb spiders (Segestriidae)
Another uncommon species associated with human habitation, Green-fanged Tubeweb Spider Segestria florentina were active from 1st May.

Woodlouse spiders (Dysderidae)
The Common Woodlouse Spider Dysdera crocata was found under stones from 17th April.

Common Woodlouse Spider Dysdera crocata 16th October - Alan Keatley

Goblin spiders (Oonopidae)
A tiny orange spider found under bark and stones, Oonops pulcher was a new species on 17th February.

Oonops pulcher 17th February - Alan Keatley

Comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae)
A nationally scarce coastal species Episinus maculipes was found on 25th January. False Widow Steatoda bipunctata were noted from 3rd February with Noble False Widow Steatoda nobilis from 14th June. The distinctive egg-sacs of the Sputnik Spider Paidiscura pallens were recorded on 19th September.

Long-jawed orbweb spiders (Tetragnathidae)
The common Metellina merianae from 4th March, with the similar Metellina mengei on 19th May and Metellina segmentata on 5th September. Nearer ground level spider, the common Pachygnatha degeeri noted on 7th October.

Metellina merianae 6th November - Alan Keatley

Orbweb spiders (Araneidae)
The widespread Garden Spider Araneus diadematus was recorded from 3rd May with another common species Walnut Orbweaver Nuctenea umbratica on 14th June. Bright green Cucumber Spider Araniella cucurbitina s.l. were widespread in scrub from 25th January.  A very common spider, Missing-sector Orbweaver Zygiella x-notata was found on manmade structures from 25th February. In natural habitats the Gorse Orbweaver Agalenatea redii, a variable species, was noted from 1st March, with Zilla diodia found in heather on 19th May.

Zilla diodia 19th May - Alan Keatley

The most sort after species on site, Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi were seen on their webs from 28th June, with good numbers in the flower meadows.

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi 1st August - Lee Collins

Wolf spiders (Lycosidae)
Wolf spiders are common ground spiders on site; however most species require microscopic examination for positive identification, only species identified this year were the saltmarsh specialist Paradosa purbeckensis found in appropriate habitat from 24th September. 

Paradosa purbeckensis - Alan Keatley

The small Dune Wolf Xerolycosa miniata, a nationally scarce sand dune specialist was recorded from 18th June. Another dune spider, the Sand Bear-spider Arctosa perita was common in suitable habitat from 20th March, with a Leopard Bear-spider Arctosa leopardus on 19th September.

Dune Wolf Xerolycosa miniata 1st October - Alan Keatley

Nurseryweb spiders (Pisuridae)
A common spider usually found basking on leaves, the Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis was noted from 3rd February.

Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis 3rd February - Alan Keatley

Funnelweb spiders (Agelenidae)
Webs of the Labyrinth Spider Agelena labyrinthica were commonly found on bramble and gorse from 12th March.

Labyrinth Spider Agelena labyrinthica - Alan Keatley

Meshweb spiders (Dictynidae)
Dictyna unicinata s.l. from 27th April, previous surveys have indicated this is the most frequent of two species recorded on site from this difficult to identify family.

Laceweb spiders (Amaurobiidae)
Fairly large, robust spiders. Amaurobius similis s.l was common sight from 17th February. Black Laceweaver Amaurobius ferox was a new species found on 9th March.

Buzzing spiders (Anyphaeidae)
The only nationally common species in this family, the Buzzing Spider Anyphaena accentuata was noted on 30th September.

Sac spiders (Clubionidae)
Found under loose bark or ground debris. Many species difficult to identify, however the two commoner species on site can be separated by size. The larger Clubiona corticalis was found on 16th January and smaller Clubionia comta on 30th January.

Ground spiders (Gnaphosidae)
Black ground-dwelling species, mostly plain looking. The nationally scarce dune spider Zelotes electus was noted on 1st March with a new species Zelotes latreillei along the seawall on 5th April, another new species Micaria micans was identified on 1st May. Finally found under loose stones at Langstone Rock, an uncommon Trachyzelotes pedestris on 9th October was also a first for the Recording Area.

Zelotes electus 7th April - Alan Keatley

Ghost spiders (Zoridae)
A grassland species, Zora spinimana from 30th January.

Zora spinimana - Ala Keatley

Running crab spiders (Philodromidae)
Another difficult family to identify. The only species identified with certainty were a Sand Running-spider Rhysodromus fallax on 12th March, a nationally rare coastal species and new for the Recording Area, and Tibellus oblongus common in Marram from 16th January.

Sand Running-spider Rhysodromus fallax 12th March - Alan Keatley

Crab spiders (Thomisidae)
The Flower Crab Spider Misumena vatia, found on flower heads from 10th May. Xysticus kochi was noted on 25th March, other Xysticus species remained unidentified.

Flower Crab Spider Misumena vatia - Alan Keatley

Jumping spiders (Saltidae)
A familiar and distinctive family with large forward facing eyes used to judge jumping distance to catch prey. The nationally scarce Dune Jumper Marpissa nivoyi, almost exclusively found amongst marram, noted from 14th January. Common Zebra Spider Salticus scenicus were active around buildings from 3rd February, with Euophrys frontalis from 6th March and Copper Sun-jumper Heliophanus cupreus from 25th March. A new species, again associated with human habitation, Hypositticus pubescens was recorded on 14th June.

Dune Jumper Marpissa nivoyi 5th September - Alan Keatley

Money spiders (Linyphidae)
The largest family of spiders with around 280 species, very few of which can be confidently identified in the field. The first of the year Neriene montana and Erigone atra on 3rd February, a common grassland species Microlinyphia pusilla on 12th March. Equally common a Bathyphantes gracilis on 24th March, with a Walckenaeria antica on 21st April and a Tenuiphantes tenuis on 23rd October.

Bathyphantes gracilis 24th March - Alan Keatley

Harvestmen (Opiliones)
Long legged arachnids with small fused bodies. Approximately 25 UK species. Six species were recorded this year, including one new for the Recording Area.

The first of the year was the common Leiobunum blackwalli from 7th January, mainly found in vegetation or resting on fencing. Equally common Leiobunum rotundum were seen from 10th April. Emerging in the warmer months, a saddleback harvestman Mitopus morio was active from 23rd May with Paroligolophus agrestis from 16th June. Another warm weather species Phalangium opilio was recorded from 16th July. 

Paroligolophus agrestis - Alan Keatley

Later in the year, Opilio canestrinii first seen on 13th September; an invasive species that has spread widely in last the twenty years. New for the site audit, Opilio parietinus was found on 21st September, a widespread and common species that is spreading across England, although there are few records for Devon. 

Opilio canestrinii 13th September - Kevin Rylands

Pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpionida)
Tiny arachnids that resemble miniature scorpions (without the sting!).

Just one species this year, albeit new for the Recording Area; Knotty Shining Claw Lamprochernes nodosus on 19th May. Tiny at just 2mm, found in compost. It moves around by attaching to legs of flying insects. Several were found attached to legs of a long-legged fly.

Mites (Tetranychidae)
Tiny arachnids, many only be identified by the galls formed on plants. Nineteen species were recorded this year.

Galls recorded this year included Aculops fuchsiae on Fuchsia and Cecidophyes rouhollahi on Cleavers, with the felt gall on Holm Oak of Aceris ilicis on 4th January.

Spring and summer months are peak times when galls appear on leaves. In May the webs of the Gorse Spider Mite Tetanychus lintearius on 6th, Stenotarsonemus phragmitidis on Common Reed on 13th, the felt gall on Sycamore of Aceria pseudoplantani on 17th, the alder midrib gall of Aceria nalepai on 18th, Epitrimerus trilobus on Elder and the Blackthorn leaf edge gall of Eriophyes similis on 31st.

Aceria pseudoplantani on 17th May - Kevin Rylands

In June Aceria macrorhyncha on Sycamore on 8th, bedstraw gall mite Aceria galiobia on Hedge (and Ladies) Bedstraw and Aceria rubiae on Wild Madder on 14th, with Aceria laevis on sallow on 22nd. Others included the hawthorn leaf edge gall of Phyllocoptes gonoiothorax on 5th July, Aceria megacerus on Water Mint from 17th July, and two species on Sea-purslane Aceria brevipes and Eriophyes obiones on 17th August. Two further species both noted on 19th September, Aceria cephalonea on Sycamore and Eriophyes brevitarsus on Alder.

Aceria megacerus 19th July - Kevin Rylands