Experts call for people to look out for 'super spider'

THE mere sight of a spider is often enough to send some people scurrying from a room.

And with central heating cranked up and fires lit for winter the long-legged beasties seem to be more and more willing to emerge from underneath the sofa.

But wildlife experts in the North are hoping a few brave souls may be willing to help them discover more about a new breed of “super spider” that is making itself at home in the region’s houses.

As part of a new ecological research project Northumberland Wildlife Trust are calling for people to not only stand their ground against the nightmarish arachnids, whose legs can reach 10cm across, but capture them and send them to the University of York. Scientists are studying where the six species of large UK house spiders live, why only one type is found more often here in the North and where the two most often found species are now breeding to create an even larger and more frightening cross-breed.

The trust’s own “spider-man”, head of conservation Steve Lowe, said he hoped people would find “the supermodels of the spider world.”

“You know the sort - the ones with massive legs and small bodies which can empty a room in five seconds,” he said.

Here in the North you are most likely to find a Western House Spider, which only grow to have a leg span of up to 16mm, but it is still possible you might find a Giant House Spider, which could easily top three inches and be capable of biting through human skin.

“If you do happen to spot one scurrying across the floor, simply collect it alive inside half a toilet roll tube, pack it with a small amount of damp tissue and post it in a crush proof container such as a margarine tub together with details of where you found it to the university,” said Steve.

All packages, also containing your postcode and contact details, should be sent to Dr Geoff Oxford, Department of Biology (Area 14), University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD. All specimens will be acknowledged and postage reimbursed.

http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2011/11/27/experts-call-for-people-to-look-out-for-super-spider-79310-29848567/