This scary looking spider, which seems to have a face on its abdomen, is a rare sight in Dorset.
Discovered on an electricity junction box at the RSPB’s Arne nature reserve, the long-legged beastie goes by the rather grand name Philodro-mus margaritatus.
Spotted by volunteer Chris Emblem-English, he started looking through books to identify it and finally got the answer from arachnid experts.
It turns out that the hairy grey and black spider, also known as the lichen running spider, has not been seen in Dorset for more than 30 years.
“This spider is something of a rarity,” said Tony Whitehead of the RSPB.
“It’s not been recorded in Dorset since the 1970s, apparently.
“If this were a bird, rather like the recent oriental turtle dove, the queues would be stretching around the car park.
“But it’s not, it’s a spider with a slightly amusing abdomen.”
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