Mygalomorph Atypus

Because it had been overcast and rainy the whole day there was no chance of a shower's-worth of hot water from the solar panel and so for the first time in many months it was necessary to switch on the immersion heater. To do this I must open the domestic consumer unit, which is located beside the door from the kitchen to the outside world, and flick the circuit breaker supplying power to the small internal water heater. During the winter months this is an everyday occurrence which I can do so automatically I do not even need to look where to put my hands, but because this was the first time in many months I did look.

The door from the kitchen to the outside world is left open all day throughout the summer to allow the breeze to blow through the house. It also allows dog and cats to come and go as they please. It does therefore have an insect screen which closes with magnets without the need for either of us to play the role of animal butler. The insect screen is made of black mesh, so it was only because this creature was so wet and shiny that I noticed him at all on the matt black screen just a couple of inches from the button that opens the door to the domestic consumer unit.

Sharp intake of breath but proudly no scream, not even a little eek! Went off to collect clear glass jam-jar for collection and photographic purposes. Jam-jarred with no unfortunate incidents. Interior lighting not so good for this kind of venture so LED torches were brought into play. Pictures taken and immediately emailed to entomologist pal for guidance (the options here being; release it, squash it or pop it in the freezer for closer examination on next visit – you really don't want to look inside our freezer!)

Then we studied entomologist pal's 'Field guide to the insects and spiders of Skopelos' and came to the conclusion that this was most probably a male Mygalomorph Atypus, about which the field guide tells us “Atypus is the only European genus of Mygalomorph spiders. They excavate deep holes (15 – 50cm) in the ground which they line with silk. When potential prey walks across the entrance the spider rushes out and impales it with its long fangs. Males leave their tubes in the autumn and search for the burrows of females. If they are accepted then they may live together for several months, but eventually the male is eaten”

Water heated, shower taken and went to bed with spider still secure in his glass jar awaiting response from entomologist-author-pal. Decided during the night that I would take daylit pictures in the morning, release the beast and blip clouds for Thursday. This I did. Secondary examination of spider photos from Thursday night and Friday morning tells me that the menacing torch-lit pics from the night before are actually so much more dramatic that I have decided to cheat and blip a Thursday night pic on Friday. We can all pretend that it was moments after midnight after all :-)