Spider reference books

[Dutchess]

Hi you spider peeps,

Can someone recommend a good spider reference book, please? I am looking for one that centres on Britain and Europe. I don't want a coffee-table type book, or one that lists the biggest, the fastest, etc. I want one to help me identify spiders in my locality (wherever that may be in GB and Europe, at the time) and to teach me about their living habits.

Due to it being strongly recommended here on WAB by the moth experts, I have recently purchased The Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (Concise Guide) by Martin Townsend. Is there a similar sort of book on spiders? So far I have narrowed my choice down to: Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe (Collins Field Guide) by Michael J. Robert. I have heard it can be a little too technical for some, but it seems to be the only book available that specialises in European spiders (apparently no such book exists for Brit spiders alone?)

Comments and suggestions welcomed Thank you.

D.

[No.9 Spider]

Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe (Collins Field Guide) by Michael J. Robert.

I think you should find that this will do the job though it is technical and contains genitalia detail to enable positive species i.d. using the microscope. It has good sections in general on spiders and good colour plates. Try to have a look first if you can.

A Guide to Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe - Dick Jones, is another good guide, less technical and with good colour photographs of species. It is I think out of print but copies might be picked up via Abebooks or similar book search engines.

Another very good guide and well worth the money when starting out is:
Keys to the families of British Spiders - L.M. Jones-Walters Aidgap Publications.


Hope that is of some use, though you are probably aware that aside from a few exceptions a 100% positive i.d. is impossible without a microscope



No.9 Spider

[No.9 Spider]

Another worthwhile book, though not particularly for Identification of species is The World of Spiders by William Syer Bristowe. One of my all time favourite spider books.
This was first published in 1958 and again in 1971. Copies frequently come up on auction sites or via book search engines. It gives an insight into the lives of spiders second to none. Bristowes observations are amazing as he added so much to the knowledge of Arachnology, a very dedicated man.




No.9 Spider

[Dutchess]

Thanks No.9! I love a good dig around for OOP books. I usually find what I'm looking for, so I'll let you know!

D.

[Geoff F]

I recently purchased the Collins Spider Guide and while it does go into details that can only be seen with a microscope it also gives plenty of good straightforward advice which I have found most useful.

Non UK species are marked with a small triangle, but I keep missing that. Differences between commonly misidentified species are explained.

Not cheap, average £25, but I managed to get mine online for £17. Although one Miami bookseller offered it for £120 inc. carriage.

[Venger]

There is an earlier OOP book with the same name in three volumes, so it could have been that one Geoff.

[No.9 Spider]

As Venger says the first Roberts publication was a hardback set comprising 3 volumes - 1) Atypidae to Theridiosomatidae, 2) Linyphiidae and a third volume with just colour plates. It is a very nice set and retailed at about £180 at the time I think. It was then released as a soft cover compact version having all the species combined in the first volume and colour plates in the second. This was a far more practical and usable set when i.d.'g at the microscope, though the spine tends to become detached after a few years. I think it was about £80 when issued and is again OOP.


No.9 Spider

[Dutchess]

Many thanks to all you spidery peeps! My Roberts arrived today. I didn't realise it was in the same series as my book "Sharks of the World". Excellent! Both books are listed at £25 but got my Roberts from Amazon for just £17.50. Highly recommended. Not an easy one to pick up and browse at first glance, but being a book-worm, I'll soon find my way around

Cheers all,

Dawn.