Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). Was stumped by this and had to ask an expert - William Kirk, a well-known entemologist - what this might be. He reckons its a species of Comb-Footed Spider (familly Theridiidae) and says that they have lots of patterns. So I hunted around on the web for this family and think it might be a "Sputnik Spider" - called such beccause of its weird egg-sacks.

Sputnik Spider (Paidiscura pallens) (18/02/2024) on a Primrose. Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). Was stumped by this and had to ask an expert - William Kirk, a well-known entemologist - what this might be. He reckons its a species of Comb-Footed Spider (familly Theridiidae) and says that they have lots of patterns. So I hunted around on the web for this family and think it might be a "Sputnik Spider" - called such beccause of its weird egg-sacks.

Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). The family Theridiidae is apparently the most common arthropod group found in human dwellings througout the world according to Wiki also says they have a comb of serrated bristles on the tarsus (end bit) of their fourth leg, hence "Comb-Footed". Iage not clear enough to show that though, sadly.

Sputnik Spider (Paidiscura pallens) (18/02/2024) on a Primrose. Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). The family Theridiidae is apparently the most common arthropod group found in human dwellings througout the world according to Wiki also says they have a comb of serrated bristles on the tarsus (end bit) of their fourth leg, hence "Comb-Footed". Iage not clear enough to show that though, sadly.

Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). The two small things that look like little legs are called pedipalps. They are not legs at all and are instead used for sensing the envioronment and assisting with eating. I think this specimen is a male as those pedipalps have swollen tips (used to assist with mating).

Sputnik Spider (Paidiscura pallens) (18/02/2024) on a Primrose. Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). The two small things that look like little legs are called pedipalps. They are not legs at all and are instead used for sensing the envioronment and assisting with eating. I think this specimen is a male as those pedipalps have swollen tips (used to assist with mating).