Rare 'master of disguise' spider seen in Cornwall

A rare spider described as a "master of disguise" has been sighted in Cornwall, an expert says.

Tylan Berry, county spider recorder for the British Arachnological Society, said the "nationally rare" lichen running spider was sighted at West Muchlarnick, a temperate rainforest site near Looe.

The "amazing looking" creature with its "incredible colour and camouflage" is "incredibly difficult to spot", he said.

"The spiders love to sit on branches covered in lichen in wait for prey, perfectly camouflaged," he added.

The spider has been spotted just a "handful" of times, he said, with other sightings at Lanhydrock, Cabilla and Redrice Cornwall Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve.

"It was very exciting when I was passed details of a possible sighting at Lanhydrock four or five years ago and it took me a further two years to find another."

Mr Berry said the spider, scientific name Philodromus Margaritatus, required mature trees, often oaks, hawthorn and pines, that are covered in lichen.

These are often in open areas such as heaths, parkland and woodland edges, he added.

They reside in "scattered pockets" between Cornwall and Surrey in the south of Britain, and in the Caledonian pine forests in Scotland.

He said: "There is no evidence of the spider living anywhere between these two hugely separated areas."

He said this meant conservation of mature trees and lichen was "important".

Alison Smith, temperate rainforest project manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: "As a master of disguise, this near-threatened species is rarely seen, with only a few records in the county.

"Its presence highlights the importance of the habitat here."

She said of the spider, which was spotted during a lichen survey: "It's a near-threatened species, further demonstrating how important the habitat at West Muchlarnick is."

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