A tiny spider thought to have disappeared from Britain forever has been rediscovered in a remote nature reserve accessible only by boat.
Aulonia albimana, A member of the wolf spider family with orange legs was found on the Isle of Wight in a place where a flock of Hebridean sheep was grazing.
It previously had no common name, but was called the white-knuckled wolf spider due to the distinctive pale “knuckles” on its palps (small, leg-like appendages on either side of its mouth) and the drama surrounding its last-minute discovery.
It was rediscovered more than a mile from its former colony on National Trust land. Newtown National Nature Reserve entomologists Mark Telfer and Graham Lyons. Telfer, who led the study, said: “This is one of those unforgettable discoveries. To discover a species that was thought lost for 40 years is exciting.”
Lyons said they only had four hours on site before the boat had to pick them up. “I found the first one with nine minutes left and the second one at the last minute,” he said. “I have seen 559 species of spiders in the British Isles and this was by far the most exciting find.”
Wolf spiders, of which there are around 38 species in the UK, get their name from their agile hunting skills, which involve stalking prey along the ground and then pouncing on it like a wolf.
However, the hunting techniques of miniature Aulonia albimana – the body length of adults is usually 3.8–4.4 mm – remains a mystery, since this species also spins a thin web. The spider was last recorded in the UK in 1985.
The area where they were found was overgrown but has been restored by the National Trust with the help of Hebridean sheep, which chew through the vegetation to maintain a short open lawn, creating exactly the kind of dappled, sunlit ground that the spider prefers.
Helen Smith, Conservationist British Arachnological Societysaid: “The remarkable discovery of this dapper little spider on the Isle of Wight is one of Britain's lost species rediscoveries of the century.
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“Having repeatedly failed to be found in previous locations where its open habitat had been lost, it seemed increasingly likely that it had joined the country's sad list of extinct species.”
The next task is to establish the full size of the population and determine the conditions it needs to expand its range and secure its future.
Paul Davies, Countryside Manager for the National Trust Isle of Wightsaid: “We have managed this rare limestone grassland for years to promote a rich diversity of wildlife. To see this work pay off with the return of such a rare species is incredibly rewarding.”
