World News – GB – Giant spider thought to be extinct rediscovered in army training area

The spider had not been seen since the early 1990s and was feared extinct in the UK

A giant spider feared to become extinct in the UK has been rediscovered at an army training center after going undetected for over 25 years

Environmentalists say interesting creatures are often found on Defense Ministry sites because they are not disturbed or affected by agriculture or development

The large spider fox is Red Listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ and there were concerns that it would go extinct in the UK as it had not been seen since 1993

It was discovered by an arachnid-obsessed worker from the Surrey Wildlife Trusts, who hunted high and low on MoD lands with his torch

For two years, Mike Waite, an avid spider at the Trust, walked for hours at night in hopes of finding the nocturnal arachnid living on the ground

Finally, he discovered unidentifiable immature spiders, on MOD lands managed by the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, then, finally, several mature males and a female Great Fox-Spider, who was 55mm or so tall. more than two inches in diameter, including its hairy and prickly legs

The delighted naturalist said: ‘I am naturally delighted to have finally proven the existence of the great spider fox in the UK Although I have always had a latent interest in spiders, as a bona fide arachnologist I am still a relative beginner, so I am doubly happy to have made this important contribution to our scientific knowledge. »

M Waite now plans to continue his study to assess the size of the population, looking for their silk-lined burrows during the winter

Spiders are named because of their hunt for wolf-like prey They love to run over sandy terrain, over gravel and rocks before catching bugs The large spider fox then leaps up, injecting hapless insects A deadly venom The spider is then ready to feast on its capture using its strong, fang-bearing front appendages called chelicerae

Large fox spiders have excellent eyesight with enveloping vision provided by eight black eyes on the head, or cephalothorax. Two large eyes shine from the top of the head; two large eyes look at the front; and four small eyes form a row just above the spider’s mouth

Rob Free, Weald Reserves Manager, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) said: “The discovery of the great spider fox shows how amazing the moor MOD is, not only for the spiders, but also for the lizard of the Sands, The Smooth Snake, Dartford Warbler, Nightjar, Silver Blue Butterfly and Marsh Clubmoss The rediscovery of the spider is a wonderful exemption from all the incredibly hard work of the MOD staff, members of the conservation group, the staff of the ARC and volunteers « 

ARC has managed key parts of the site since 1974, with particular emphasis on preventing the extinction of the endangered sand lizard, and as a conservation partner of MOD, ARC manages a much of the moors open to the site since January 2019 Managed for the restoration of nature, the MOD site is recognized as being of national importance for its populations of rare species of birds, reptiles and invertebrates

Rich Lowey, Chief Technical Officer of the Defense Infrastructure Organization, said: “Many people are unaware of the size and diversity of the Defense field and its immense wildlife wealth. It has generally been protected from intensified agriculture and urban development, so it is now a vital sanctuary for many of the country’s rarest and most threatened species and habitats. We are proud to hear that the Great Spider Fox has survived thanks to MOD’s commitment and enthusiasm for positive and active conservation management on the estate and close collaboration with ARC, Surrey Wildlife Trust and MOD conservation groups « 

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Spider, fox, extinction, UK, endangered species