Tone Killick
Dysdera crocata, woodlouse spider.
A lot of the spiders I collect in the field are photographed in a white tray and I use a small fine paintbrush to position them. In the UK we have very few arachnids capable of giving a painful bite and Dysdera crocata, with its impressive fangs, is one of them. This female wasn't at all happy with me touching her and immediately spun around to bite the paintbrush. Interestingly, Segestria florentina, another one of the UK's 6 eyed spiders is equally defensive. For the record, this is defensive behaviour. I'm sure if someone kept poking me with a broom, I'd soon get the hump!
Dysdera crocata, woodlouse spider.
A lot of the spiders I collect in the field are photographed in a white tray and I use a small fine paintbrush to position them. In the UK we have very few arachnids capable of giving a painful bite and Dysdera crocata, with its impressive fangs, is one of them. This female wasn't at all happy with me touching her and immediately spun around to bite the paintbrush. Interestingly, Segestria florentina, another one of the UK's 6 eyed spiders is equally defensive. For the record, this is defensive behaviour. I'm sure if someone kept poking me with a broom, I'd soon get the hump!