On Thursday afternoon I spent twenty minutes out on the exit ramp talking visitors and volunteers alike whilst trying to get as close as I could to the tiny spiders that could be found on one section of hand rail and fence....
Well, apart from the nest ball of Garden Orbs, several pardosa Wolves and a couple of small Nursery Webs they were four Jumping Spiders. Amazingly each was of a different species. All were very small and only two were fully grown. With pictures from myself and Jerry Hoare I have given it my best shot to id them!
Here we go...
Evarcha arcuata ... Well this is the closest I can get. This is the only small, dark, unmarked jumper with a glossy sheen that I can find. The legs seem a little too coloured so any help welcomed. (JH)
A young Salticus scenicus ... the familiar Zebra jumping Spider (JH)
Heliophanus flavipes ... one of my favourites but this youngster was only about 2mm long so lots of growing to do (JH)
Senageles venator... a new one on me and one of the black ant mimics. The stripes pretty much nail this to the right species (HV)
and add to these fout the HUGE species ound last Saturday then that makes five species for the site so far this season!
Marpissa muscosa (James Lowen)
A great set of finds. I have to look closer or these other species next time Im there