There are currently around 30 known species of Harvestmen found in the UK, following some recent additions.

Not all are found in Nottinghamshire, but some species known to have a predominantly southern UK range, could yet be found here. One advantage of their study and identification, is that they are commonly found around human habitation, so it is not always neccessary to have to travel any distance to find them.

A Worksop house we visited until recently, produced several interesting species within the confines of a small terraced garden, including a new species for the UK (see Leiobunum sp below) and one recent colonist of Mediterranean origin, is now common on stone walls and buildings throughout the county.

Harvestmen differ structurally from spiders by having a single body, with no seperate thoracic or abdominal sections. In general, the legs of all Harvestmen are longer than those of most spiders. Identification to species level becomes easier through experience, with several key features to compare and look for.

One key ID aid for some species is the 'trident', which is a group of usually three or five steeply conical tubercles that look distinctly like spines. The abdomen often has rows of much smaller tubercles known as denticles, although these are missing in many species where the abdomen is smooth, or are at least very indistinct. The eyes of Harvestmen are large and raised from the rest of the body on the Ocular tubercle. Length of the second pair of legs can often aid any identification, but the position of the legs at rest, means that perhaps the easiest species to identify is the Mediterranean Harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus, which rests with all legs at right angles to the body in a distinctive manner.