This section contains insects not covered in the groups on the main pages and also Spiders
Scorpionflies
These unusual insects belong to a small order called Mecoptera. There are only 4 species of 2 genera in the UK. The commonest genera is Panorpa – the image is probably P.communis. All are relatively common, except in the far north of the UK. All have a downwards pointing beak. They are predators of small invertebrates
They get their name because the male genital area at the tip of the abdomen is swollen and curved upwards like a scorpions sting. However they are not poisonous A mere pretend to sting seems to ward of potential predators
Heath Assasin Bug
Bugs are an order of insects which suck fluids from a variety of plant and animal souces. the have a hypodermic like stylet mouthpart to do this. They hunt insects and spidrs and should be handled with care -they bite and can pierce the skin
Spiders
Spiders or Arachnids typically have 4 pairs of legs. The Lowes has huge numbers, especiallu over the dry heath. They are an important food source for small birds, especially during the winter
Crab spiders
Crab spiders are camouflaged and lay in wait for insects to caplture, especially on flowers. Here the spider has caught a Brimstone butterfly
In the video below a Green hairstrek is captured by a slighly more camouflaged crab spider
Garden Spider
There are plenty of these on the Lowes and on a dewy morning their webs are very obvious in amongst the heather and gorse
Common Orb WeaverSpider
Another common spider on the Lowes. They have typically long front legs
Funnel-web Spiders
These are common on the Lowes. They build a funnel shaped web which has at its centre a tube which will contain the eggs and which the spider can hide. It sits at the front of the tube with its legs testing for any movements of the web caused by a prey species landing on the funnel. Typical prey are grasshoppers. The spider rushes out to its prey, bites it, injecting poison and then wraps the prey in silk to be drained of body fluids later at the tube entrance at the centre of the web.