Unidentified spider on nettle

[QuirkyQuercus]

Hello

Took this photo today in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Cannot find it in any of my wildlife books though I lack a specific book on spiders. Any ideas?

[Geoff F]

That spider is actually a harvestman. Does that help?

It rather looks like Rilaena triangularis but that isn't a confirmed identification.

Medium long legs with a second leg length around 30 to 40 mm?

[QuirkyQuercus]

That helps a lot thankyou. I only got the one shot before it scuttled off but I am pleased with it. Looks like some sort of Dr Who Ood monster! I'm putting together a wildlife photoframe display for the park shop so I like to be able to id them.

Cheers

[fairplay]

Would that be Nowton Park, Quercus ?

Neil.

[QuirkyQuercus]

Yes, that's the one. A new centre is about to be built which will take a few months. When it's finished I'm going to try and establish some sort of wildlife corner, maybe in the cafe, with displays and so forth.

[Geoff F]

For future reference if you find another harvestman; this site may be helpful

Opiliones

They are an interesting and rather small group which can usually be found fairly easily once you start looking. At least the commoner forms. As their name suggests, adults are mostly found in the late summer/autumn although juveniles of some species should be around now. But they mostly hide in leaf litter, etc.

I have to be careful to avoid them when digging around in shady damp areas of my garden.