Looking for segestria florentina in Cornwall

nickster · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 07:09 AM

I know it's a bit of long shot but does anybody know where I can see segestria florentina anywhere near Looe in Cornwall. I'm off on holiday next week and would love to see one as there's no such thing where I live in Chester! i'll be roaming across that area fo the world mostly eating crab sandwiches and rock pooling with the kids, but spotting segestria florentina would make the trip even better! I've been down to Cornwall for the last 3 years and still haven't managed to find one so thought I'd ask if anybody has any suggestions this time

nightshade · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 07:23 AM

They came in through ports from the continent, mine are all under the back porch (the length of the house) which is South facing and their tubular webs fill every cavity. So a port, south facing wall with some shelter.

Wild-Woman · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 07:27 AM

On the NBN Gateway a 10k square includes Fowey, so this might be a good starting point.
As Nightshade suggested- walls near ports- even garden walls with the characteristic radial silk from the tubes would be an indicator.

MattPrince · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 05:59 PM

Old crumbly brickwork seems to be their habo of choice. Webs are easy to spot by day, spiders easy with a torch by night as they lurk at the entrance holes. Here in Exeter city centre any crumbly wall with a hole in it at pretty much any height.

nickster · #5 (**permalink**) 15-07-2011, 07:35 AM

Thanks folks! Have been hunting in looe, polperro and a few other places over the last few days but nothing spotted yet (apart from more tagenaria than you can wiggle a blade of grass at!!!). Off to fowey today so going to have a look there. My wife thinks I've gone completely mad and strangers are giving me a wide birth as they watch me sticking my nose into cracks, holes and crevices... If only they knew what potentially lurks within!

Checked out some great pictures and videos of webs so certain I'm looking for the right markers! Onwards and upwards

diablo83 · #6 (**permalink**) 15-07-2011, 01:45 PM

I've lived in Plymouth over a year and I have finally spotted segestria florentina in a public toilet by the sea. In the top corners of the window frames inside. I don't recommend hanging around public toilets for many reasons but the Segestria's seem to like them.

No.9 Spider · #7 (**permalink**) 18-07-2011, 12:24 PM

Segestria florentina can be found in Looe. If you head to the beach of East Looe, Banjo pier side and then go to the start of the coastal path behind the cafe, look in the old stone wall on your left as you proceed up your path. There are some nice large specimens to be found here though they are not as numerous as in previous years. Once you are past the last houses they are non existent.
You can entice them out with a piece of grass dragged over the radiating web lines or at the funnel entrance. They will not be fooled more than once or twice though!
I only just spotted this thread so apologies for late reply. There are quite a few to be found on the walls around Plymouth Hoe also, around the quayside and below the naval base.

Regards

nickster · #8 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 08:36 AM

Blinkin' brilliant Number 9! Coincidentally we are off to looe today to do a spot of crabbing so I shall abandon my wife and son and take my daughter off to the path to hunt out S. Florentina as per your directions! I'll go and give her the good news! Thanks again and I'll let you know how I get on...

nightshade · #9 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 10:11 AM

Try using a feather, it makes a more durable "tickler" If you intend to photograph them you will need an assistant, they are quick and will only respond a couple of times

nickster · #10 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 05:42 PM

Oh, what can I say... I am man the hairy hunter and I have gone forth and tickled many S. florentina out or their lairs today!!!! In my bravery, I only dropped the tickler on two occasions too! My children were impressed for about 2 minutes during the 3 hours I spent finding quite literally loads of the fantasic little monsters around looe

However I must apologise for having to post on this topic in the first place... I've obviously been walking round looe with my eyes closed for my last four annual holidays. You can barely look at a wall without seeing an s.f. web! They are everywhere! On Friday when I go again I'm going to try and get my daughter to snap a decent photo or two. We managed to get a couple of really large specimimes to come completely out and savage my blade of grass but didn't get full in photos

Still, I have to say I am finally content on the S.F. front and i'm really grateful for the excellent directions provided by no9. They were spot on! Much appreciated! God bless WAB too! It's even better than eBay!

On a different note and slightly off topic (although at least I'm still with an arthropod) I has another first this week... For the first time ever I turned a rock over and found a brown crab under it! I've been crabbing for over 30 years and never turned up a brown crab without scuba gear on! In fact I found a fair number on the same trip to a rainy beach in Fowey. Between this and the spider I've had a great week (despite the rain and whinging kids)!