Amazing Arachnids!

Arachnids, or spiders as they are more commonly known, are often a forgotten treasure of nature. Strumpshaw Fen’s Visitor Experience Officer Laura starts of this A to Z by uncovering some forgotten truths about how spiders are an integral part of nature.

 

It is great to be back and what better way to celebrate than jumping back in with an exciting new blog series? The Strumpshaw Fen A to Z of Giving Nature a Home will be a series of weekly blogs -intersected with the occasional sightings blog from warden Ben- giving examples of the many ways we manage the reserve for nature as well as ways you can help nature at home. During lockdown many of us became that little bit more in-tune with the nature around us and utilised our local green spaces more than ever before. As we slowly return to some form of normality, let’s not forget those things we learnt, but rather make connecting with nature a regular part of our lives.

So let’s start at the beginning… with A for Arachnids!

 

This is the Fen raft spider, a spider that is a particularly special resident at Strumpshaw Fen. Spotted this August by Dan Monk, this spider is a first for Strumpshaw! This individual was photographed carrying an impressive egg sack, so with a bit of luck, a whole bunch of spiderlings are exploring the reserve right now for the for the first time. The fen raft spider is a striking creature with a dark body and cream stripes down the side. As one of the largest spiders in the UK, they can grow very large and females can sometimes reach up to the size of the palm of a hand.

(Fen raft spider, photographed by Dan Monk 13/08/2020)

East Anglia is only one of three locations where the fen raft spider can be found in the UK. They are found in wetland habitats and, like their name suggests, float on the surface of the water to hunt for prey. Back in 2015 there was a large repopulation project to bring fen raft spiders to the marshes surrounding Strumpshaw Fen, so it is delightful to see they have decided to officially call our reserve home.

 

You won’t find fen raft spiders in your homes, but there are several other kinds of spider that often call our houses home, even if you don’t sometimes realise it! Though often considered a nuisance, I’d like to suggest that spiders can be a valued asset – they are natural house cleaners! House spiders will eat flies and other insects, so you don’t have to worry about them. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership, our homes stay clean and they have all the food they can eat!

If we can tolerate spiders in our houses, we’re are doing more than just facing our fears, we are giving nature a home. So next time you see a spider, try and look beyond the scary face and think of the fascinating lives they lead which are too often shrouded in mystery.  

 

Keep your eyes peeled for next week’s blog entry as we continue the A to Z series with B for bats!

 

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