Male Phalangium opilio have these huge horns projecting from their chelicerae, apparently used as weapons in combat with other males. Now that I'd like to photograph! BAS Meg Skinner (British Harvestmen) (she/her) This one has a passenger too (a small red mite).

OK spider fans, stamps go up on 7th Oct so buy instead of your Yule stamps, extra new spider stamps designed by Richard Lewington 🤩

📸 Soerensenella sp. With mites. I am unsure what relationship these mites have with the harvestmen 🕷️ Hopefully this will inspire others to look a bit closer during #arachtober 2024, which is just a few days away now.

I was recently interviewed on behalf of BAS to chat about spiders in agriculture. This article touches on why we should consider spiders alongside other groups such as pollinators: cpm-magazine.co.uk/technical/agri… #arachnids #arachnology #entomology

We are all set up at the AES - amentsoc.org exhibition at Kempton Park racecourse. Come and say hello 👋 🕸 🕷 Meg Skinner (British Harvestmen) (she/her) #arachnids #spiders #britishspiders

We have copies of the 2nd edition of Britain's Spiders. Co-author Lawrence Bee is with us if you'd like your copy signed! Fantastic book for beginners and enthusiasts alike! AES - amentsoc.org #aesfair #Spiders #arachnids

Britain's favourite swiftly-spreading non-native #harvestman: Opilio canestrinii. Spotted at dusk hanging out on a tree near Loddon, Norfolk, TM39/VC27. Literally: the photo was taken from below, straight up the tree-trunk! Waiting for a small meal to climb up, perhaps.

Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) are among the most beautiful and overlooked arachnids on the planet. I invite everyone to take part in #Opilioctober, regardless of where you live. This month, I will teach you how to identify and record these fascinating creatures in Ireland.

#Opilioctober Beginning with one of the most common and easiest to recognise of the Irish Harvestman fauna. Nemastoma bimaculatum is a small (body ~3mm) black harvestman with two yellow or silver marking on the cephalothorax. 🧵1/3

#Opilioctober Day 2 introduces us to Dicranopalpus ramosus (Fork-legged Harvestman). Both males and females strike an unmistakable pose with their legs held straight out to the side as they wait for unsuspecting prey to pass. Male, left. Female right. 🧵 1/4

#Opilioctober Day 3 Say hello to the most spider-looking harvestman there is... Odiellus spinosus. A stunning and large species that I generally find under and between stones (Photo 1), especially on well-drained gravel or stone areas. 🧵 1/2

For #Arachotober, a chance to celebrate the colourful diversity of Britain's spiders with Royal Mail Stamps special edition, superbly illustrated by Richard Lewington. Available now from your local Post Office or as special packs from shop.royalmail.com/special-stamp-….

Thanks to those who came along - watch this space for more workshops next spring/summer!

As I say on all of the talks/courses, if you learn only one harvestman - this is the one! Super common in late summer/autumn all across the UK

Great day last week at Field Studies Council Bishop's Wood - loads of cellar spiders (Pholcus) in their saxon hut (and a peacock butterfly) #arachtober #arachnology BAS

#opilioctober Day 5 Leiobunum blackwalli is one of three Leiobunum species in Ireland (two of which can be superficially confused). They are very common at this time of year as adults, and I will teach you how to tell them apart! (Male = Left, Female = Right) 🧵1/4

Our own Meg Skinner (British Harvestmen) (she/her) recently featured in the September issue of CPM Magazine, talking all things spiders 🕷️ In the article, she discusses the impact of agro chemicals on spider populations & how resilient arachnids are as a species. cpm-magazine.co.uk/technical/agri… BAS

I know this looks like a small ball/bead, but it is actually a baby Nelima gothica harvestman in its egg. Those black areas and the light area between them are the eyes and ocularium. Fingers crossed for a successful growth!

Poor photos but discovered this tiny Harvestman spider neath scree on #TunstallHills 🔎 Confident with Mitostoma chrysomelas and a reminder to focus on #Opiliones srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/S…