Alan Thornhill

Yes, if I showed all the pictures I've got of A redii, non arachnologists would never believe they were all the same species

01.11.2025 09:25 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Gorse orb weaver

A spider for Halloween, but not a scary one. It's a rather attractive Gorse Orbweaver (Agalenatea redii) I found today near Mildenhall, Suffolk. @britishspiders.bsky.social #arachtober

31.10.2025 18:53 — 👍 43    🔁 4    💬 1    📌 0

It was the first I've seen since I was a kid (more years ago than I like to mention)

05.10.2025 08:45 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Do the three species get on well together?

30.08.2025 14:04 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

I only found two Steatoda albomaculata at Lackford Lakes yesterday (12 June) and their markings and colouration were quite different. @britishspiders.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social

13.06.2025 09:36 — 👍 12    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 1

Zilla diodia is easy to find at present in the countryside of West Suffolk, or the part that I live in at least. Here is a selection of ones in the local hedgerows. @britishspiders.bsky.social

15.05.2025 09:14 — 👍 10    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0

Heliophanus sp with chironomid midge

Fencepost jumper, Marpissa muscosa, with bibionid fly. On a fencepost appropriately

Pardosa monticola with egg sac

Male Xysticus (probably erraticus) on fence post

I couldn't find the spider I was looking for today #lackfordlakes in Suffolk, but these were adequate compensation

02.05.2025 19:16 — 👍 10    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

We'll definitely have you. I tried to organise a meetup this week but it wasn't suitable for several people. I'll have another go after Easter. I'm not sure who'll join in but Brian has attended all so far. I'll need an email address to send the invite out to

05.04.2025 07:52 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Yes, still living in Suffolk but unlike you I'm fully retired. However, I help the Br Arach Soc with their accounts on Bluesky and X. I'm still in touch with several from SB, inlcuding Brian, and occasionally we all meet up on Zoom.

04.04.2025 17:59 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Wow, it's only known UK site is one cave

30.03.2025 20:37 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Is it found in just one cave on the island?

30.03.2025 09:47 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Politicians seem keener on proportional representation when they're in opposition, but tend to forget about it when they're in power.
Anyway, it's nice to find out what ex-SBers are doing nowadays. Hope you're well.

11.03.2025 19:25 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

That's really sad to read. A mainstay of arachnology.

24.01.2025 22:56 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I looked at the epigyne under the microscope (whilst it was alive) but didn't think it looked more like pubescens that the other Drassodes. But I didn't want to put it in alcohol.

20.01.2025 17:20 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Thanks. It was adult and, if I remember correctly, just over 7mms long. But I didn't want to kill it just to examine the epigyne more closely.

20.01.2025 10:21 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

male Alopecosa barbipes

female Drassodes, probably pubescens.

As @britishspiders.bsky.social have pointed out, some spiders are still active in December. This male Alopecosa barbipes and female Drassodes (probably pubescens) were caught in pitfalls on Suffolk breckland in the past few days. (Both were released after being photographed). #winterspider

14.12.2024 13:12 — 👍 11    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0