Rare spider rediscovered in Britain after 40 years - just in time for Hallowe’en - National Trust

A critically endangered wolf spider, unseen in Britain for four decades, has been rediscovered on the Isle of Wight, marking a major conservation success.

The tiny, orange-legged arachnid Aulonia albimana, a member of the wolf spider family, was last recorded in the UK in 1985 before being spotted again this autumn at the National Trust’s Newtown National Nature Reserve.

Its rediscovery is a victory for the charity’s conservation project at Newtown, which forms part of Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme, a scheme that provides targeted action for some of England’s most endangered flora and fauna.

The team behind the discovery has informally dubbed the species the White-knuckled Wolf Spider, a name inspired by both the distinctive pale ‘knuckles’ on its palps – the small leg-like appendages either side of the mouth – and the last-minute drama involved in finding it.

It was rediscovered this autumn, some 2km from its former colony, by entomologists Mark Telfer and Graeme Lyons. It is also the first time the species has ever been digitally photographed in the UK.

Mark Telfer, who led the survey, said: “This is one of those unforgettable discoveries. To find a species thought lost for 40 years is thrilling - and testament to how the right habitat management, combined with curiosity and collaboration, can deliver remarkable results.”

Graeme Lyons added: “I suggested calling it the White-knuckled Wolf Spider because this was probably the longest long shot I’ve ever taken part in. We had just four hours at the site where this spider was last seen 40 years ago, before our boat came to pick us up. I found the first one with just nine minutes to go, and the second one in the last minute. I’ve seen 559 species of spider in the British Isles and this one was by far the most exciting find!”