interesting question remains whether it is actually spreading or whether
it has remained undetected all along. Like many species the spider is
easily overlooked if it is not specifically looked for or it not the right
time of year.
Ray has continued to find individuals of the strange eight-eyed Oonopid
spider. The spider is new to Britain but has otherwise so far eluded
being given a name by the experts. Most spiders have eight eyes but
Oonopid spiders normally have only six. These new spiders have two
extra anterior median eyes but several of the specimens Ray has found
this year have these much less distinct or even absent. There is ari
interesting paper by de Dalmas on the Oonopid spiders of the genus
Orchestina. A number of species in this genus have been found with
eight eyes and in some cases individuals within the same species and
from the same locality and environment vary between six-eyed and
eight-eyed forms. Unfortunately males of this Essex spider have so far
eluded capture. Male spiders usually have complex palps which are
used in reproduction and their structure is important in their taxonomy
and identification. A male might help place this new spider more easily
even though the males of Oonopid spiders have simple palps compared
to those of most other families.
Nomenclature follows Merrett, Locket & Millidge (1985) with
amendments listed in Merrett & Millidge (1992), with the exception of
Philodromus longipalpis Simon, 1870 redescribed by Segers (1992).
References
Cooke, J. A. L. (1962) A Preliminary Account of the Spiders of the
Flatford Mill Region. Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society
Vol. XII, Part III, p.155-176.
de Dalmas, Comte. (1916) Revision du Genre Orchestina E.S. (Arachn.
Oonopidae).Ann. Soc. ent. France 85 p.203-258.
Hull, J. E. (1935) Some Essex Spiders. Essex Naturalist Vol. XXIV
p.209-214.
Hull, J. E. (1947-51) The Spiders of Essex, Recent Additional Records.
Essex Naturalist Vol. XXVII p.58-64.
Merrett, Locket & Millidge (1985) A check list of British spiders. Bull.
Br. arachnol. Soc. 6 (9), 381-403.
Merrett & Millidge (1992) Amendments to the check list of British
spiders. Bull. Br. arachnol. Soc. 9 (1), 4-9.
Pickard-Cambridge, 0. (1883-86) A Contribution towards the
Knowledge of the Arachnida of Epping Forest. Transactions of the
Essex Field Club. Vol. IV p.41-49.
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