August 16th 2024.
Great news for nature lovers! You may be surprised to learn that giant spiders, capable of spinning webs the size of pizzas, could be living right in your own backyard. Of course, this is only possible if you happen to have a fen, a type of wetland, in your garden. These impressive creatures are known as fen raft spiders, and they have quite a unique way of hunting for prey.
Found on the edges of ponds, fens, and coastal marshes, fen raft spiders use their front legs to poke at the water's surface. But this isn't just a leisurely swim for them - they're actually sensing for the slightest vibrations made by their prey, which includes fish and tadpoles. That's right, these giant spiders are known for catching and eating fish, and even have the ability to skate across the water's surface to do so, as reported by the British Arachnological Society.
With a body length of 22mm and a leg span of about 70mm, these chunky arachnids are easily one of the largest and rarest species in all of Britain. In fact, their size is comparable to that of a human palm, so if you happen to find one in your home, a mug may not be enough to contain it. Despite their impressive size, these spiders were once on the brink of extinction due to human interference with their natural habitat.
Listed as endangered on the UK Red List in 1991, fen raft spiders are now protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population has seen a significant increase in Norfolk and Suffolk, with an estimated 3,750 spiders living at the Strumpshaw Fen alone. This is a huge improvement from just a few years ago, when there were only three populations remaining in Suffolk, East Sussex, and Swansea.
For those who may be afraid of spiders, this may not be the best news. But for the local wildlife, this is a much-needed success story. Tim Strudwick, the RSPB Mid Yare nature reserves site manager, shares that these spiders are not only impressive in size, but also beautiful to observe. And don't worry, they pose no harm to humans.
If you're interested in catching a glimpse of these magnificent creatures, now is the perfect time to visit the Strumpshaw Fen reserve. From June to September, visitors have the best chance of spotting the mature females with their glistening nursery webs, which can stretch up to 25cm in diameter - about the size of a pizza. While their numbers are increasing, fen raft spiders are still considered vulnerable and need to be protected in order to avoid extinction. So let's continue to appreciate and admire these semi-aquatic spiders and their important role in our ecosystem.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
