Sunday, 17 August 2014

Foreign Harvestman

We've all probably seen one of these, either on a wall or on trees, But did you know it is an introduced species of Harvestman. Called Dicranopalpus ramosus and originating from the Mediterranean, it is now colonising the UK, but thankfully appears to be a benign introduction. No matter what surface it finds itself on, it always rests in this characteristic pose, with all its legs stretched out almost parallel with each other, in a band. Also characteristic are the prominent, unequally forked pedipalps (the forked appendages seen in font of it in this photo.
I would think Martin has seen loads of these while cleaning.




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