The Snake Backed Spider

 

Segestria senoculata

One of the highlights of todays session was undoubtedly Segestria senoculata, a species that I have searched and searched for for several years now, so it was fantastic to finally track one down. In fact I found several today all within or beneath lose bark on a mixture of decidious trees, particularly sycamore and lime. I've been primarily looking in old stone walls over the past few years having been tipped off that this is one of the best places too look, but it would seem tree trunks are equally if not better places to check, based on my personal experience.

This attractive spider is commonly known as a Snake-backed Spider, due to its Adder like dorsal markings on the abdomen, which is thought to be a deterrent to would be predators. Although perhaps this may just be creative thinking and instead this shape merely acts as camouflage breaking up the outline of this crevice dwelling spider. This is a long awaited spider tick and undoubtedly one of my highlights of the year so far.