A critically endangered spider has been rediscovered on the Isle of Wight for the first time in the United Kingdom for 40 years.
The arachnid was found at the National Trust’s Newtown National Nature reserve, in the north west of the island.
The team that found the tiny orange-legged arachnid, which was last recorded in the UK in 1985, have informally named the species the white-knuckled wolf spider.
The British Arachnological Society had feared it was extinct and has described it as ‘one of Britain’s epic lost species rediscoveries of the century.’
The spider was located in a remote overgrown area of the reserve accessible only by boat, about 2km away from the spider’s former colony. Credit: Graeme Lyons / National Trust
Entomologist Mark Teller, who made the discovery with colleague Graeme Lyons, said the name was inspired by the distinctive pale “knuckles” on its palps – small leg-like appendages at the side of the mouth – and a race against the clock to find it.
He said: “This is one of those unforgettable discoveries.
To find a species thought lost for 40 years is thrilling – and testament to how the right habitat management, combined with curiosity and collaboration, can deliver remarkable results.”
Graeme Lyons said: “I suggested calling it the white-knuckled wolf spider because this was probably the longest long shot I’ve ever taken part in.
“We had just four hours at the site where this spider was last seen 40 years ago, before our boat came to pick us up.
“I found the first one with just nine minutes to go, and the second one in the last minute. I’ve seen 559 species of spider in the British Isles and this one was by far the most exciting find. The team located the spider in a remote overgrown area of the reserve accessible only by boat, about 2km away from the spider’s former colony. “
They said wolf spiders – of which there are about 38 species in the UK – were named for their agile hunting skills as they chase their prey along the ground and pounce on them, although they can also spin a “flimsy web”.
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