Harvestmen – Nature Journeys

Phalangium opilio

This is another new species for the garden, and they all appear to like my shed wall for some reason. This is a lovely female.

A long-legged harvestman with an indistinct and variable light gray or brown body pattern. The saddle has one or two restrictions along its length giving it a waisted, or double-waisted appearance. Males have a large spur or horn projecting from the anterior surface of the first cheliceral segment. They also tend to have long, thin pedipalps relative to those of other harvestmen and usually are blacker in colouration than the females.

Found in well vegetated areas such as gardens, brownfield sites, grassland and open woodland. Seen on walls and vegetation.

10/2010/20 by Peter Hillman Categories: HarvestmenTags: Harvestmen, Nature Photography, Phalangium opilio, south staffordshire wildlife, Wildlife Photography 12 Comments

Leiobunum sp. A

This caused some excitement the other day in the Harvestmen group I am a part of. Note that the ‘A’ at the end in the title is not a typo, but is there because scientists have yet to name it! It was first discovered in Europe in the Netherlands back in 2004, and then in the UK in Worksop, Nottinghamshire in 2009. There are a few scattered records as this non-native species extends its range. Despite rigorous searches, its point of origin in the world has yet to be determined.

It has extremely long legs, up to 100 mm (4 in) in length, and an unusual dark metallic green sheen of the dorsal surface, especially in the male. It can form large congregations on shaded areas of walls of buildings which can be counted in their hundreds. Associated with stony ground, and found around buildings like houses and on brownfield sites and old industrial land.

10/2010/20 by Peter Hillman Categories: HarvestmenTags: Harvestmen, Leiobunum sp. A, Nature, Nature Photography, Opiliones 51 Comments

Autumn Is A Time For Harvestmen

Odiellus spinosus – Its been a good year for harvestmen, and I have seen quite a few different species around, but I haven’t seen this one in the garden for some years now. This one has 3 distinct horns of similar length which, together, is called a ‘trident’, and has a dark oulined ‘saddle’ on its abdomen which ends short, combined these are diagnostic features. Notably it has short to medium legs compared to other species of harvestmen. A fierce hunter which prays on other invertebrates, and is found around human habitation like outbuidlings, gardens and houses.

10/20 by Peter Hillman Categories: HarvestmenTags: Harvestmen, Nature, Nature Photography, Odiellus spinosus, Wildlife Photography 15 Comments

Hitching A Ride

Common Harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis – This was quite something to see, a tiny springtail, Deuterosminthurus pallipes, hitching a ride on the back of a harvestman.

10/20 by Peter Hillman Categories: HarvestmenTags: Common Harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis, Harvestmen, Nature, Nature Photography, Wildlife Photography 18 Comments

All Stretched Out And Waiting

Dicranopalpus ramosus agg. This one was all stretched out on my shed wall waiting for a snack to land in its lap. It was a crafty devil as it made its place near a light source waiting for night fliers which might be attracted to it. This is not a spider, but a harvesmen, and no, it does not bring in the crops end of season. It has one leg missing, it is a female, and is a fierce hunter which prays on other invertebrates. Note the excessively long, forked pedipalps pointing forwards. You can see them from now until October, resting on low vegetation, walls and fences.

07/2008/20 by Peter Hillman Categories: HarvestmenTags: Dicranopalpus ramosus agg female, Harvestmen, Nature, Nature Healing, Nature Photography 7 Comments

All Legs

As I was preparing the garden hose for watering the garden this evening I disturbed this rather long-legged individual who was sheltering nearby. It a male Leiobunum blackwalli, a species of harvestmen. I have bought you in close to start, and will bring you back gradually over three shots, and you will see just how long these legs are.

Note how small the body is, and how different it is to that of a spider. Harvestmen are quite an ancient group of arachnid, and although they resemble spiders they are not spiders, but related. They have an order of their own called Opiliones. The conjoined head and body of this individual is around 3mm (0.1in) long. Now the legs are about 50mm (2in) long. And that is each leg.

No wonder they are also called ‘Daddy Longlegs’.

Rear garden, Staffordshire, England. June 2017.

06/1705/20 by Peter Hillman Categories: Animals, Animals (Invertebrates), Arachnids, Harvestmen, Macro Photography, Nature Photography, Photography, Wildlife PhotographyTags: Arachnids, Harvestman, Harvestmen, Leiobunum rotundum male, Macro Photography, Nature, Nature Photography, Opiliones, Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 21 Comments

Leiobunum rotundum (male)

Photograph of male Leiobunum rotundum, taken August 2007, rear garden , Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2007. Camera used Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1.

09/1609/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Animals, Animals (Invertebrates), Arachnids, Harvestmen, Nature PhotographyTags: Arachnids, Harvestman, Harvestmen, Leiobunum rotundum, Leiobunum rotundum male, Nature, Nature Photography, Opiliones, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 10 Comments

Leiobunum rotundum (female)

The females of this harvestmen are quite distinctive with a dark median dorsal band and black-ringed eyes. The male lacks the dark banding, but both sexes have a brownish-reddish ground colour. The legs are extraordinarily long. They can grow up to 7mm long in body length.

A nocturnal hunter, feeding on various insects, other invertebrates and some carrion.

Seen mainly in autumn. Found in woods, scrub and gardens. One of the commonest and widespread species , but less so further north in Scotland.

Photograph of Leiobunum rotundum, taken August 2015, rear garden , Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2015. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.

09/1609/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Animals, Animals (Invertebrates), Arachnids, Harvestmen, Nature PhotographyTags: Arachnids, Harvestman, Harvestmen, Leiobunum rotundum, Macro, Macro Photography, Nature, Nature Photography, Opiliones, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 5 Comments

Odiellus spinosus

This is a fairly large harvestman with the females being larger than the males. It has a distinctive black mark along its back which terminates before the end of the abdomen and appears to be darkly outlined. A key identifying feature is the cluster of spines or horns just in front of the eyes which is called the ‘trident’, and consists of three almost of equal length.The abdomen is also distinctly flattish. Body length female 9.5mm, male 7mm.

A fierce hunter which prays on other invertebrates.

Seen June to December. Usually found around human habitation like outbuidlings, gardens and houses. It is often found resting on walls during the day. Common and widespread in southern England and also found in parts of the Midlands and Wales.