A definitive guide to UK native and invasive spider species?

[sezra]

does anyone know of such a resource? I also would like to learn how to consistently identify males and females.

 

[Spepper]

On the note of distinguishing males and females—males have bulbous pedipalps, females don't.

 

[sezra]

On the note of distinguishing males and females—males have bulbous pedipalps, females don't.

so males kind of have boxing gloves?

Is that across the board? as in all true spider species share this trait?

 

[The Snark]

so males kind of have boxing gloves?

Is that across the board? as in all true spider species share this trait?

Generally speaking, yes, across the board. However, some species can be subtle in difference and it really helps to have a MM and a MF side by side for comparison.

 

[Spepper]

Generally speaking, yes, across the board. However, some species can be subtle in difference and it really helps to have a MM and a MF side by side for comparison.

Yes, the "bulbousness" of the pedipalps can vary between species and even the age of the spider (young ones may not show a difference between the genders yet) but with adults it's usually quite easy to tell a mature male from a mature female.

 

[Dark Raptor]

does anyone know of such a resource? (...)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spiders-Britain-Northern-Europe-Collins/dp/0002199815

 

[Smokehound714]

some species, like jumpers, can be very difficult to sex while immature.

Sometimes a mature Phidippus audax male could resemble a female without a close look at the palps for emboli

 

[sezra]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spiders-Britain-Northern-Europe-Collins/dp/0002199815

thanks very much. Thats exactly the sort of thing I'm after

I've just started an ecology and wildlife conservation course at uni, and want to primarily focus on spiders, so this will be a huge help!