Volunteers working for Sussex Wildlife Trust have discovered a rare green huntsman spider during conservation work at Old Lodge Nature Reserve in Ashdown Forest, near Uckfield.
The striking bright green spider was spotted during a volunteering session in late October, with the wildlife charity sharing a photograph taken by Ellie Stradling.
The discovery might surprise anyone familiar with the enormous huntsman spiders commonly associated with Australia, as the British species belongs to the same spider family.
However, there is no need for alarm. The green huntsman spider, known scientifically as Micrommata virescens, is a native British species and is considerably smaller than its Australian relatives.
While some Australian huntsman spiders can have a leg span of around 15 centimetres, female green huntsman spiders in Britain typically have a body length of up to 15 millimetres.
The green huntsman is Britain's only native huntsman spider species and is mainly found in southern England, particularly in woodland, heathland and areas of long grass.
Its vivid green colouring provides excellent camouflage among vegetation, allowing it to remain hidden from predators while searching for food.
Unlike spiders that construct elaborate webs to capture their prey, the green huntsman is an active predator, ambushing flies and other small insects.
Females are generally bright green, while adult males can have distinctive red markings along their abdomens.
Despite their intimidating family name, green huntsman spiders are not considered dangerous to humans.
The species is an established resident of Ashdown Forest, although sightings are relatively uncommon.
Old Lodge Nature Reserve covers 74 hectares of heathland, grassland and woodland, providing an important habitat for wildlife, including insects, birds and reptiles.
Sussex Wildlife Trust has previously highlighted the reserve as a particularly good location for spotting green huntsman spiders, especially among purple moor-grass during the warmer months.
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