spider with crab claws id

[mrbright]

i have a spider with what appears to be crab claws on its small front legs, the spider is about 4 inches wide leg to leg, i say wide as that is the way it is positioned not length ways but widthways, the body is small and buff coloured,and the top of the legs have 3-4 gold coloured bands.
and it is on one of my plants in the garden, am waiting for camera to charge to attempt a photo, also the right hand claw appears to be biggger than the left hand claw.
any ideas from description

[mrbright]

photo as promised, best i can do.

[serendipity]

Dicranopalpus ramosus! First discovered in britain in 1957 at Bournemouth.

[LoveT]

It's a harvestman

As post above

Thea

[The Woodman]

I think this is a female Dicranopalpus ramosus, a Mediterranean species found in southern England but spreading northward slowly.

[bigdave60dog]

Definately harvestman> I bow to the greater knowledge of those who have Id`d it.
I reckon that it will be a long time before we see one in Orkney.
Dave

[mrbright]

many thanks for your input all, i now know the difference between spiders and harvestmen . it must be watfords unbelievable mediterranean sun that keeps him here

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I think this is a female Dicranopalpus ramosus, a Mediterranean species found in southern England but spreading northward slowly.

Already well established in North Yorkshire and further north.

[The Woodman]

I don't recall seeing such spiders classed as "alien invaders". I was thinking about alien spiders the other day when I was in a roof void of a very old farmhouse absolutely full of Pholcus. Not another spider species to be seen.

Are we tolerating them at the expence of our native species?

I'm not aware of them as far north on this side, dogghound, that's not to say they aren't - I'll do a bit of research.

*Well well. Plenty of Cumbrian and north Lancs records on NBN even in my 10km square (but not 2km -next to me). There are no records on NBN of this species in Nw or Ne Yorks.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I don't recall seeing such spiders classed as "alien invaders". I was thinking about alien spiders the other day when I was in a roof void of a very old farmhouse absolutely full of Pholcus. Not another spider species to be seen.

Are we tolerating them at the expence of our native species?

I'm not aware of them as far north on this side, dogghound, that's not to say they aren't - I'll do a bit of research.

I reported them to the county recorder about 2 years ago, found at Arnside. They'll have hoofed it over the bridge to Grange by now, I am sure.