Insects and Spiders: Focus on Spiders
216 species of spider have been recorded in Hastings of which 18 are designated as Nationally Scarce.
A species is designated as nationally scarce if has been recorded in less than 100 10km national grid squares.
Meadow and Scrub
The interface between meadow and scrub around undisturbed meadows adjacent to woodland or scrub can be very rich in spiders. It is a particular good habitat for the spectacular yellow and black striped wasp spider Argiope bruennichi. This species used to be rare but is now quite common in south-east England. The meadow at South Saxons Wetlands and Choice Allotments are particularly good sites for the species.
Another orb weaver, Zilla diodia, can be found commonly in this habitat in Hastings. The scrub adjacent to the grassy verges around Ashdown House is a good place to see this nationally scarce spider. The colourful green cribellate spider Nigma puella has been found on the woodland edge at Big Meadow, Marlline Valley Local Nature Reserve.
Woodland
The nationally scarce money spider Diplocephalus protuberans has only ever been recorded in Sussex in Ecclesbourne Glen. It is essentially a northern species liking the cooler climate of northern England, northern Wales and southern Scotland. This unusual distribution of northern species occurring in the gills of Hastings has been recorded with a number of other invertebrates and plants.
Another nationally scarce spider found in the woodlands in Hastings is the cobweb spider Coelotes terrestris. It actually seems to be quite common in Hastings and the surrounding area found at ground level beneath stones and fallen branches in damp woodland.
Wetland
The silver orb weaver Theridiosoma gemmosum has been found amongst tall vegetation growing underneath the willow scrub at South Saxons Wetlands.
Maritime Cliff
On the undercliff along Hastings Country Park and at Castle Rocks the nationally scarce comb-foot spider Episinus truncatus can be found. It makes a simple rectangular web amongst tall vegetation and its only other site in Sussex is on heathland at Ambersham Common.
Two scarce money spiders have been recorded from undercliff areas along Hastings Country Park. Hybocoptus decollatus can be found on gorse growing on the undercliff or cliff top and has only been found in a small number of sites in southern Britain in similar habitat. Micrargus laudatus is usually found on sand dunes and other sandy habitats, at Hastings Country Park it has been found under low growing vegetation on the sandstone cliff.
The very rare ant mimic ground spider Micaria romana has been found in a number of cliff top areas along Hastings Country Park. It has only been found in a very few cliff top and coastal sites in the extreme south of Britain. The scarce ant mimic jumping spider Myrmarachne formicaria has been found on the undercliff at Ecclesbourne Glen, Hastings Country Park. This weird looking spider even waves its front legs around like antennae to further enhance the ant-like mimicry.
The only tarantula-type spider (in the sub-order Orthognatha, more commonly called Mygalomorphs) to be recorded from Britain, the purse-web spider Atypus affinis has been found in Hastings on the cliffs and cliff-top at Hastings Country Park and on the Oval road verge near White Rock Gardens. These are rare spiders in Britain and require sandy or chalky free draining soil to make their burrows. The silk lined burrows are difficult to locate as only a small aerial portion of their web, usually camouflaged in particles of soil is visible above the ground. They usually occur in small colonies, such as at the site near White Rock Gardens, where up to twelve burrows have been recorded.
The large green sparassid Micrommata virescens, which is usually a woodland clearing species has been found beside the stream near the cliff edge at Ecclesbourne Glen, Hastings Country Park. This spider is one of the most colourful spiders in Europe and the male is especially bold with its bright red and yellow striped abdomen.
Heathland
Heathland is the single most important habitat for spiders in Britain with nearly 500 species recorded from the habitat. The cliff-top heathland at Firehills and Warren Glen is especially important as it is home to a unique community of cliff-top heathland spiders. These include one of the largest wolf spiders in Britain Trochosa robusta which is very scarce and has only been found in a small number of sites.
The rare ant mimic ground spider Micaria romana mentioned above has also been recorded from cliff top heathland at Hastings Country Park. The nationally scarce money spider Walckenaeria incisa has been found on heathland here as well as four nationally scarce ground spiders Haplodrassus silvestris, Trachyzelotes pedestris, Drassyllus lutetianus, and Drassyllus praeficus.
The bright green orbweaver Araniella inconspicua has also been found recently on cliff-top heathland at Warren Glen.
Wildlife
