Spider ID please...... must get a book....

[Pete W]

OK
So I think it is a spider ... It has 8 legs and my wife runs a mile :lol:

Can someone please ID for me. Found in woodland





Can someone recommend a good book on Uk spiders for idiots like me

[No.9 Spider]

It's a Tetragnatha species, possibly T. extensa .



No.9 Spider

[Pete W]

thanks

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by Pete W

OK
Can someone recommend a good book on Uk spiders for idiots like me

Hi Pete,

When I asked a similar question, the spider experts here recommended Collins Field Guide Spiders of Britain & Northern Europe (Michael J. Roberts). Expensive - but worth it

hth

D.

[Meta menardi]

I am sure many of you can work this out, but for those who haven't

Tetragnatha means 4 jawed or something very close. The have jaws thare HUUUUge. Bigger than Br*ce Fors*th!

I agree with the book reccomended, it is quite awesome and worth every penny.

[Geoff F]

I also find that book very useful and, if you shop around, quite good value for the hours of entertainment and elightenment that it provides.

But, it is just a Field Guide and I often find myself wanting more information, which is why I keep asking questions here.

Unfortunately, all of the more comprehensive books are very expensive and mostly out of print now. One of the recommended books for UK spiders appears to be the 3 volume 'British Spiders' by Locket & Millidge which, despite being rather dated now, appears to sell at over £100 for second hand copies.

[dmclean2]

Hi Pete,
There are some good spider sites on the web,
here's a couple that could help,and spider eye sets that could help determine genus, I downloaded this one and printed off the 9 sheets and cut them down to size then stapled them to-gether for reference, try and get a photo of a spider head on so you can see the eyes, and check it out
Duncan

http://users.skynet.be/spinnen/SpinOogProject.htm

Thumbnails of spiders in NW_Europe

Fotogalerie Arachnida

[No.9 Spider]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

I also find that book very useful and, if you shop around, quite good value for the hours of entertainment and elightenment that it provides.

But, it is just a Field Guide and I often find myself wanting more information, which is why I keep asking questions here.

Unfortunately, all of the more comprehensive books are very expensive and mostly out of print now. One of the recommended books for UK spiders appears to be the 3 volume 'British Spiders' by Locket & Millidge which, despite being rather dated now, appears to sell at over £100 for second hand copies.

The 3 volume 'British Spiders' by Locket & Millidge (and Merrett vol.3) are mainly for use by serious araneologists, ie, with use of a microscope etc. I wouldn't personally recommend shelling out on these expecting to get a general idea on spider species, they are nice to have though.
I always recommend 'The World of Spiders' by W. S. Bristowe, not as an i.d. guide particularly but as a fascinating insight into spider behaviour in general.
Aside from the Collins one, if you can get a copy of 'A Guide to Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe' by Dick Jones, this is a good pointer to spider species as it has a good coverage using photographs.



No.9 Spider

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by No.9 Spider

The 3 volume 'British Spiders' by Locket & Millidge (and Merrett vol.3) are mainly for use by serious araneologists, ie, with use of a microscope etc. I wouldn't personally recommend shelling out on these expecting to get a general idea on spider species, they are nice to have though.
I always recommend 'The World of Spiders' by W. S. Bristowe, not as an i.d. guide particularly but as a fascinating insight into spider behaviour in general.
Aside from the Collins one, if you can get a copy of 'A Guide to Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe' by Dick Jones, this is a good pointer to spider species as it has a good coverage using photographs.



No.9 Spider

Again, I agree with No.9, the Dick Jones book is very useful, but I have had to buy the French edition, I don't think the English one has been in print for some time. A quick blast with the dictionary and some school level French, and it works fine.

[No.9 Spider]

It should be reprinted. I've not seen it for years. I remember some years ago (15?) a bookshop I went in was selling the hardback version for about £3. I bought a few, but wish I had the insight to buy the lot .


No. 9 Spider