This rare species of spider is called Hypsosinga heri
A team of researchers from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has recently identified a rare species of spider.
The two researchers were actually looking for species of butterflies when they spotted a red spider resting on a flower at the Radipole Lake Nature Reserve in Weymouth, Dorset.
The rare species of spider is called Hypsosinga heri and it was last seen in the United Kingdom more than 100 years ago.
This species of spider was last seen in these areas in 1898 and 1912, in the Wicken Fen, near Ely, Cambridgeshire.
If it wasn’t for this recent encounter, this species was about to be taken out from the list of spiders found in Britain.
Allan Nelson, one of the researchers who spotted the spider recounts that he and his colleagues were looking for butterflies when they saw a small, bright-red spider on one of the flowers.
Not sure what species the spider belonged to, Nelson photographed the arachnid, consulted the guide book and then posted the photo on an internet forum called the Spider Recording Society to get help identifying the species.
Although the rare species of spider was found in May, the British Arachnological Society recently confirmed that the photo sent by Nelson and his team was indeed of Hypsosinga heri.
Nelson said they were very excited that the spider belonged to the rare species Hypsosinga heri.
The volunteers who discovered the spider named it Harriet because it is a female.
This species of spiders are about 2-4 mm in length and they usually live on plants that are close to water.
Tony Whitehead, who works at the RSPB, said that the reserves have many natural wonders and are filled with surprising species.
He added that he’s very pleased that the volunteers stumbled upon this rare species of spider because it means that the efforts to create and manage the homes for wild creatures are not only for birds, but also for other species, like spiders.
Whitehead believes there are more spiders of this species around the home gardens, since the reserve is located close to an urban area.
Image Source: techtimes
