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 proves as 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, further specimens
of Araniella displicta, have since been found at Harlow Wood in
2022 by David Shaw, on the site of the former Calverton
Colliery in 2023 and at Clumber Park in 2025, by Nick and Samantha Brownley. |
