A super-rare species of spider that could have been lost forever from the UK has been rediscovered, 40 years after it was last seen.
The white-knuckled wolf spider was found in the Isle of Wight… or should that be, the Isle of Fright?
Spider experts are very excited, as it was feared to be extinct.
Dr Helen Smith of the British Arachnological Society, said: ‘The remarkable discovery of this dapper little spider on the Isle of Wight is one of Britain’s epic “lost species” rediscoveries of the century.’
Since 1985, attempts to find it again in its former homes had all failed.
What is the white-knuckled wolf spider?
Officially named Aulonia albimana, the tiny arachnid has orange legs and is part of the wolf spider family.
The team who found it informally named it the ‘white-knuckled wolf spider’ because it has distinctive pale patches on its palps, the small leg-like appendages either side of its mouth.
They were also inspired by the drama of finding it, as it came right down to the wire; they spotted it less tha ten minutes before they were due to leave.
‘Unforgettable’
Mark Telfer, who led the survey, called it an ‘unforgettable’ discovery and said: ‘To find a species thought lost for 40 years is thrilling – and testament to how the right habitat management, combined with curiosity and collaboration, can deliver remarkable results.’
The National Trust said it was a sucess story for their conservation project at Newtown National Nature Reserve, part of a Natural England programme targeting England’s most endangered plants and animals.
They employed the help of a flock of Hebridean sheep to chew through vegetation and create patchy, sunlit open turf which the spider prefers.
Race against the clock
Entomologist Graeme Lyons, who came up with the name, said: ‘This was probably the longest long shot I’ve ever taken part in.
‘We had just four hours at the site where this spider was last seen 40 years ago, before our boat came to pick us up.
‘I found the first one with just nine minutes to go, and the second one in the last minute. I’ve seen 559 species of spider in the British Isles and this one was by far the most exciting find!’
The spider was found around 2km from its former colony in a remote area only accessible by boat, and has now been digitally photographed for the first time ever in the UK.
What are wolf spiders?
There are around 38 species living in the UK, and they take their name from their way of hunting.
Most of them chase their prey along the ground, and then pounce like a wolf.
However, this particular lil Aulonia albimana is a bit mysterious and multi-talented, as it also sometimes spins a flimsy web.
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