‘Lost’ spider species rediscovered on Isle of Wight

An endangered spider that had not been seen in the UK for 40 years has been rediscovered.

Aulonia albimana, which was last recorded in the UK in 1985, was found in the National Trust's Newtown National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Wight.

The team that found the tiny orange-legged arachnid has informally named it the white-knuckled wolf spider.

Entomologist Mark Teller said: “Finding a species thought to be lost for 40 years is exciting – and a testament to how good habitat management, combined with curiosity and collaboration, can produce remarkable results.”

The reserve described the find as “a major conservation success.”

Aulonia albimana was in a remote, overgrown area of ​​the reserve, accessible only by boat, approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) from the former spider colony.

Mr Teller, who found it with his colleague Graham Lyons, called it “one of those unforgettable discoveries”.

Mr Lyons said: “I suggested calling it the white-knuckled wolf spider because it was probably the furthest I've ever been involved.”

“We only had four hours at the site where this spider was last seen 40 years ago before the boat came to pick us up.

“I found the first one with nine minutes left and the second one in the last minute.

“I have seen 559 species of spiders in the British Isles and this was by far the most exciting find.”

Mr Teller said the name was also inspired by the distinctive pale “knuckles” on the small, leg-like appendages on the sides of the spider's mouth.

Dr Helen Smith, conservation officer at the British Arachnological Society, said: “The remarkable discovery of this dapper little spider on the Isle of Wight is one of the epic rediscoveries of Britain's 'lost species' of the century.

“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.”

There are around 38 species of wolf spiders in the UK, named for their agile hunting skills as they stalk and pounce on their prey on the ground.