One particular image of a male in the paper, seemed to match the Worksop specimen perfectly, so we emailed images of the Worksop specimen to Jochen Martens and Paul Richards for possible identification and confirmation. Both replied back with the conclusion that it was indeed Leiobunum sp. The Harvestmen still (February 2017) remains scientifically un-named.

Following the end of our three year wait to record Leiobunum sp. A again on October 13th 2012, we eventually went on to record a total of 13 males and nine females along the southern wall of the Priory. All the Leiobunum sp. A we found were found resting more or less at eye level, with only one female found about 20 feet up. They clearly preferred the vertical joints or tight recesses built along the southern side of the Priory walls. We made immediate follow-up visits the next day, recording a total of 20 individuals, before a final visit of the year on October 17th, recording a total of 18.

2013 records

Numbers increased on those initially found 2012, with counts of 37 on August 15th, rising to 43 on September 9th. Most of both these counts, were found in two aggregations, usually situated under some degree of shelter via the building's stonework, with up to 27 on the south side of the Priory and 11 under an arch on the eastern side. A count of 46 made on September 22nd, was the highest count to date.

We made two visits to the site and immediately found a single aggregation of 81 Leiobunum sp. A, a few minutes into our search on August 9th 2014.

The final total of 202, showed that there had been an enormous increase in numbers from 2013, possibly helped by the exceptionally mild Winter. Similar daytime roost sites, were used as in previous years, but we did note a substantial increase in numbers on the north (shaded) side of Worksop Priory.

Our second visit was made nearly a month later on September 7th and counts had increased to 274. There were increased numbers of Leiobunum sp. A recorded within all aggregations found on our first visit. The aggregation of 81 had grown to 95 and there were several other aggregations which totalled well over 30 individuals.

Our first visit of 2015 took place on August 2nd, which was a week earlier than in 2014. A total of 217 Leiobunum sp. A were counted, with many still immature, although there were already a few mature males present. Once again, the main aggregations were located in exactly the same positions on the Priory walls, as recorded in previous years. The largest single aggregation consisted of approximately 90 individuals, but higher than normal numbers were present on the eastern (recorded for the first time on the new section of the Priory) and the northern side. One immature male, was even found underneath the overhanging top stone of a grave and away from the main Priory walls.

Our second visit took place on August 15th. A total count of 212 was made, with groups in similar positions and there was an increase in the numbers of small groups. One usually guaranteed aggregation under an arch on the eastern-end of the Priory had disappeared.

On September 14th, we returned with wildlife cameraman James Dunbar to conduct another count. On arrival we immediately checked the first aggregation, which only a few weeks ago had held approximately 90 individuals. With the division of this aggregation noted on our previous visit, we noted a further reduction in numbers and after checking all the southern walls of the Priory, concluded that many Leiobunum sp. A had dispersed further afield, including one group which had aggregated on the north side of a large tomb.

On October 8th, we visited Worksop Priory to conduct another survey. Since our last visit, the weather had been largely fine and dry with some pleasantly warm daytime temperatures, but very cool nights. What remained of any of the aggregations present on September 14th, had dispersed and most of the 34 Leiobunum sp. A recorded were found well distributed over the walls of the Priory and with very few on the Priory's north side.

Our latest ever visit to Worksop Priory took place on November 1st. The day was pleasantly warm and sunny and a total of 31 Leiobunum sp. A (19m and 12f) were counted. There had been further movement/spread across the walls of the Priory, although none were present on the shaded north side. It was obvious that the remaining population had moved to the warmer southern and western walls and many Leiobunum sp. A were quite openly sat in full view. All were recorded singly or in twos, but not male with female. Most specimens had darkened further (especially the males) which we were surprised to find, now out-numbered females by almost two to one. Additional surveys for Leiobunum sp. A at other Worksop locations proved negative.

Summary of the 2016 surveys and records

A much earlier visit was made to Worksop Priory, with the intention being to search for juvenile Leiobunum sp.A, which we thought would be low on the Priory walls by the middle of June. Our visit was on June 17th and we found most of the 85 Leiobunum sp. A as sub-adults, but we did record a few juveniles (shown right) of just 2.5mm body length.

There were no aggregations, but we did locate a loose group of eight sub-adults on the south wall of the Priory. None of the traditional aggregation areas on the Priory walls were occupied and most of the Leiobunum sp A found, were well scattered across the whole of the Priory's southern walls, usually in cracks and crevices, but often openly on the stonework in the manner of our native Leiobunum species.

Some two weeks into August and we visited Worksop again and found a record count of 308 Leibunum sp. A, on the Priory walls. The aggregation of 94 individuals on July 31st, had now risen to an impressive 130 by August 13th. This high count failed to increase (or even last) and by the time we conducted or next survey on September 10th, it was clear that the aggregations had broken up into considerably smaller groups. The largest group we found was just 24 and unusually, not in any of the traditional locations. A total of 146 Leibunum sp. A for the visit seemed small.

Fig 1: Below are our visit dates and counts of the Leiobunum sp A population at Worksop Priory since 2012. The small graph depicts the highest count per year, reading from 2012 on the left.

Summary of the 2017 surveys and records

We were slightly late conducting the first of the year's surveys, eventually visiting Worksop Priory a week later than we had originally planned to do.

Our first visit on July 5th 2017, produced a total of approximately 232 Leiobunum sp.A, with several specimens noted as having recently completed moults. We noted many more old skins on the walls, where other individuals had also recently completed the process. The count of 232 represented the third highest count we have had on the Priory. The largest percentage were counted on the south-facing walls and typically (for an early date) we found on the north walls and none at all at the Prioy's eastern end.

Leiobunum sp.A, looks set to be present in even higher numbers over the next few weeks, but we again found none on nearby buildings despite much searching.

Following the coldest Winter for a number of years, with some late snow, we wondered how Leiobunum sp.A had survived since our last visit of the previous year. Our first visit to Worksop Priory was on July 12th, during a period of prolonged, hot and dry weather. We counted approximately 170 individuals, of which quite a number were in the process of moulting. The distribution changes noticed last year were continuing and none were found on the eastern end of the Priory, but a good number were found on the northern walls. We presumed that the increase on the northern side, was due to Leiobunum sp.A avoiding the daytime heat.

After a very mild Winter, where there were only isolated frosts and just the briefest flurry of snow one morning, our first visit to survey Leiobunum sp.A took place on July 7th. It was only a brief survey which saw an unexpectedly small total of 47 sub-adults and a few juveniles. They were located in the usual spots on the south and north walls, with the largest aggregation being of 28.