This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/23898679

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Smart approach to house spider survey Smart approach to house spider survey
(14 days later)
The summer heat might be fading but things are hotting up for house spiders.The summer heat might be fading but things are hotting up for house spiders.
If you're not afraid of them, autumn is the best time of year to see one of the arachnids as males come out of their usual hiding places in search of a mate.If you're not afraid of them, autumn is the best time of year to see one of the arachnids as males come out of their usual hiding places in search of a mate.
And according to the Society of Biology, which has launched a new recording scheme, the spiders may have started early.And according to the Society of Biology, which has launched a new recording scheme, the spiders may have started early.
Thanks to a smartphone app they have already received 3,000 reports - including sightings in August - but there have been few previous studies of this kind for accurate comparison.Thanks to a smartphone app they have already received 3,000 reports - including sightings in August - but there have been few previous studies of this kind for accurate comparison.
Dr Geoff Oxford from the University of York and the British Arachnological Society cites his paper published in 1987 that suggested sightings of house spiders peaked in late September but the spiders' movements were not recorded earlier in the year, so their exact behavioural patterns remain to be revealed.Dr Geoff Oxford from the University of York and the British Arachnological Society cites his paper published in 1987 that suggested sightings of house spiders peaked in late September but the spiders' movements were not recorded earlier in the year, so their exact behavioural patterns remain to be revealed.
Dr Rebecca Nesbitt and colleagues at the Society of Biology hope that by encouraging people to study spiders they can shed light on their seemingly mysterious habits. Dr Rebecca Nesbit and colleagues at the Society of Biology hope that by encouraging people to study spiders they can shed light on their seemingly mysterious habits.
To make it easy for citizen scientists to record spiders on their patch, the biologists have released a phone application to gather valuable data for scientists in situ - and get to know the spiders we share our homes with.To make it easy for citizen scientists to record spiders on their patch, the biologists have released a phone application to gather valuable data for scientists in situ - and get to know the spiders we share our homes with.
"We are trying to collect as much data as possible from around the UK. It is amazing how much there is still to discover about even the animals that live closest to us, but scientists can't collect this much information alone," said Dr Nesbitt. "We are trying to collect as much data as possible from around the UK. It is amazing how much there is still to discover about even the animals that live closest to us, but scientists can't collect this much information alone," said Dr Nesbit.
There are five closely related species of house spider in the UK from the genus Tegenaria which means "mat" in reference to their sheet-like webs.There are five closely related species of house spider in the UK from the genus Tegenaria which means "mat" in reference to their sheet-like webs.
These are the large brown spiders you sometimes see scuttling across the kitchen floor or stuck in the bath.These are the large brown spiders you sometimes see scuttling across the kitchen floor or stuck in the bath.
"When male large house spiders stop in the middle of a room, they are not planning who to scare next, as often assumed. They are just exhausted," explains Dr Oxford."When male large house spiders stop in the middle of a room, they are not planning who to scare next, as often assumed. They are just exhausted," explains Dr Oxford.
"Like a cheetah they can run very fast for a short distance, and then have to stop to recover.""Like a cheetah they can run very fast for a short distance, and then have to stop to recover."
Although they sometimes live indoors, these spiders are most likely to be found living in sheds or wood piles.Although they sometimes live indoors, these spiders are most likely to be found living in sheds or wood piles.
Males are easy to identify due to the pedipalps protruding from their head - structures that resemble boxing gloves which are used to transfer sperm to females.Males are easy to identify due to the pedipalps protruding from their head - structures that resemble boxing gloves which are used to transfer sperm to females.
"I find large house spiders a fascinating group of species. They are awesome and beautiful to examine close up," says Dr Oxford."I find large house spiders a fascinating group of species. They are awesome and beautiful to examine close up," says Dr Oxford.
"From a research angle, some of the species hybridise and provide a fascinating window on geographical distributions and the evolution and possible fusion [or loss] of species through hybridisation.""From a research angle, some of the species hybridise and provide a fascinating window on geographical distributions and the evolution and possible fusion [or loss] of species through hybridisation."
He also adds that spiders play an important role as "nature's safest insecticides": snacking on midges, mosquitoes and other insects.He also adds that spiders play an important role as "nature's safest insecticides": snacking on midges, mosquitoes and other insects.
The recording scheme encourages the public to photograph and identify the spiders they find and provides information on the most frequently encountered species.The recording scheme encourages the public to photograph and identify the spiders they find and provides information on the most frequently encountered species.
Dr Oxford lists the following as the ten spiders you're most likely to encounter around your home: Large house spiders (T. saeva and T. gigantea), the common house spider (T. domestica), the cardinal spider (T. parietina) in the south of England, the daddy long legs spider (Pholcus phalangioides), the European garden spider (Araneus diademata) and orb-weaver (Zygiella x-notata) can often be found on windows, lace web weavers (Amaurobius similis and A. fenestralis) live in the crevices of external walls and on hot days the black and white striped jumping spider (Salticus scenicus) hunts on exposed walls.Dr Oxford lists the following as the ten spiders you're most likely to encounter around your home: Large house spiders (T. saeva and T. gigantea), the common house spider (T. domestica), the cardinal spider (T. parietina) in the south of England, the daddy long legs spider (Pholcus phalangioides), the European garden spider (Araneus diademata) and orb-weaver (Zygiella x-notata) can often be found on windows, lace web weavers (Amaurobius similis and A. fenestralis) live in the crevices of external walls and on hot days the black and white striped jumping spider (Salticus scenicus) hunts on exposed walls.
Join BBC Nature on Facebook and Twitter @BBCNature.Join BBC Nature on Facebook and Twitter @BBCNature.
The Society of Biology's house spider survey runs through the autumn and you can also submit records to the British Arachnological Society's spider and harvestman recording scheme.The Society of Biology's house spider survey runs through the autumn and you can also submit records to the British Arachnological Society's spider and harvestman recording scheme.