be very interesting to be able to compare the spider fauna of gardens with that of the nearby habitats.
Gardens, particularly when large enough to contain relatively undisturbed areas, are similar to
woodland edges, normally rich habitats.
F. O. P.-Cambridge and O. P.-Cambridge both recorded spiders from outhouses in the forest area
including the house spiders Tegenaria domestica, T. gigantea and T. parietina and Amaurobius similis.
Frank P. Smith also records the Gnaphosid spider Scotophaeus blackwalli, a spider probably
widespread in houses in Essex but with few records. He also notes Dysdera crocata from under stones.
The spider is often found in gardens and outhouses where its orange-red appearance and large jaws
are likely to make it an object of interest. Although many other spiders reject woodlice as prey Dysdera
specialises in them. It uses its huge pair of fangs to tip up the woodlice so that it can reach the softer
exoskeleton underneath.
The gum squirting spider Scytodes thoracica has been recorded in a Walthamstow house. This slow
moving spider has a very characteristic appearance with its enormous cephalothorax and slow cautious
movements. It catches prey without the help of any kind of web but instead squirts viscous threads.
These immobilise and poison the prey which is then dragged free of the sticky threads to be sucked
dry (Bristowe, 1958).
Amaurobius ferox, Steatoda bipunctata and Zygiella x-notata are other spiders that have been
recorded from more natural habitats in the forest such as under bark but they almost certainly also
occur in houses and outhouses in the district.
References
Bristowe, W. S. (1958) The World of Spiders. Collins New Naturalist series. London. 304p.
Dallas, J. E. S. (1937) Atypus affinis Eichw. in the London District. London Naturalist. Vol.18 p.24-25.
Essex Field Club Reports of meetings. (1918-21) Essex Naturalist. Vol. XIX p. 176,178.
Hull, J. E. Some Essex Spiders. Essex Naturalist Vol. XXIV (1935) p.209-214.
Hull, J. E. (1947-51) The Spiders of Essex, Recent Additional Records. Essex Naturalist Vol. XXVII p.58-64.
Jonsson, Lars J. (1990) Tre for Sverige nya spindelarter (Araneae). - Ent. Tidskr. 111 83-86.
Locket, CH, Millidge, A.F., and Merrett, P. (1974) British Spiders Vol. 3. The Ray Society, London. 314p.
Main. Hugh (1921-23) Notes on the Occurrence of the British Trap- door Spider, Atypus affinis, in Epping Forest. Essex Naturalist Vol. XX
p.23-25.
Parker, S. (1961) Some spiders of the Colchester area in 1961. Nature in North East Essex: Annual Report and Records of the Colchester and
District Natural History Society and Field Club.
Pickard-Cambridge, 0. (1883-86) A Contribution towards the Knowledge of the Arachnida of Epping Forest. Transactions of the Essex Field
Club. Vol. IVp.41-49.
Pickard-Cambridge, F. O. (1899-1900) Further Contributions towards the Knowledge of the Arachnida of Epping Forest. Essex Naturalist. Vol.
XI p.315-318.
Segers, H. (1987) Philodromus praedatus O. P.-Cambridge, nieuw voor de Belgische fauna. Nwsbr. Belg. arachnol. Ver. 5 : 10-11.
Shear, William A. and other contributors (1986) Spiders: Webs, Behaviour, and Evolution. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.
492p.
Smith, Frank P. (1901-2) Notes: Arachnida. Epping Forest Spiders. Essex Naturalist. Vol. XII p.70.
Smith, Frank P. (1901-2) The Spiders of Epping Forest, part 1. Essex Naturalist. Vol. XII p.181-201.
Smith, Frank P. (1903-4) The Spiders of Epping Forest, part 2. Essex Naturalist. Vol. XIII p.49-60.
Smith, Frank P. (1903-4) The Spiders of Epping Forest, part 3. Essex Naturalist. Vol. XIII p.209-218.
Smith, Frank P. (1903-4) Notes on the Spiders observed at the meeting in Epping Forest, July 26th, 1902. Essex Naturalist. Vol. XIII p.22-23.
Further reading:
Jones, D. (1983) The Country Life Guide to Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe. Country Life Books. Hamlyn. Middlesex. 320p.
Jones-Walters, L.M. (1989) Keys to the families of British Spiders. Field Studies 9. 365-443 (FSC Publication 197). FSC Publications.
Shrewsbury.
Locket, OH. and Millidge, A.F. (1951 and 1953) British Spiders. Vol. I and II. Ray Society, London.
Roberts, M.J. (1985 and 1987) The Spiders of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. 1-3. Harley Books. Colchester.
Addendum
Theridion pinastri known from only a handful of sites in Britain was recorded from Oak on Leyton
Flats and Lippitts Hill in June 1992.
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