The
finding of this beautifully attractive spider in a Nottinghamshire
Churchyard will likely raise a few eyebrows - not only for turning up
well north of any other UK records, but because UK records are
relatively few and according to the Spider Recording Scheme, it is
rarely found. This Araniella displicata was found in a small
orb-web on a mature Yew Taxus baccata at St Mary's Church,
Edwinstowe in early October 2020. It was kept over the Winter and after
moulting through to adult (top two photographs) was released back on
site and represented a first Nottinghamshire
record.
If nothing else, this was an example of what can sometimes be found
locally, even if that species seems very unlikely according to the
distribution maps. And as if to emphasize the point, a second specimen
(an adult female) was found on the site of the former Calverton
Colliery, by Nick and Samantha Brownley in April 2023. |
