'Extinct' spiders rediscovered

[Nadja]

As some know, I'm from Belgium and there was some big news today that I thought would be nice to share. It could be interesting.

So as the title already says, a species of spiders was rediscovered in Lommel, a city in Belgium.
It's official name is Eresus sandaliatus, in English known as Ladybird spider, and was thought to be extinct in Belgium for already 113 years. Untill today.

Some people were walking around on a field where they are planning to build an industry site on when they saw one of the spiders. Soon they noticed that there were quite a few. These spiders live underground where they make vertical tunnels. They make a web where the tunnel ends and the surface of the ground begins, so they can catch insects that walk on or fly into it. The Ladybird spider becomes older than most other Belgian spiders because they live underground. They are the most beautiful spider in Belgium and of course thank their name on that fact that they look like ladybirds. At least, the males do. Females are totally black.

People are going to capture these spiders to release them is some different cities (well, grassfields and whatever plain ground) to make sure they won't disappear again and also to protect the species from this future industry site.


Male:

http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/DF/DF12...ird-spider.jpg

Female:

http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/04/0472...rd-spider-.jpg

[Salzy]

Cool! How the heck did something so pretty like that go unnoticed for over a hundred years? That's just incredible.

[Walter]

What a cool spider! The male is super pretty and the female looks nice too. Reminds me of jumping spiders, although their lives are so different.

[umop_apisdn]

Great to hear a bit of news that isn't simply a link to some website. Thanks for the pertinent details.

However, I am very concerned regarding the proposed management. Rather than protect the site for an obviously imperiled species, they're continuing on with the development of an industrial complex and assuring the public that the species will be conserved by moving it? I'd be willing to put a large sum of money down that if this is indeed a last refuge for the species, moving individuals with the intent of having them re-populate a new site not only spells the real demise of the species but stands as an ultimately embarrassing conservation decision by whoever it is that made this decision. As exciting as the rediscovery may be, the story that follows is one of the saddest I've read. One of the biggest concerns regarding translocation efforts for wildlife is to address whatever problems led to the disappearance of the species in former parts of its range [that are proposed areas for reintroduction] to begin with.

EDIT: Apologies...should have done my research before responding. I read that the species was extinct, meaning gone from the face of the earth, not locally extirpated. After some Googling, evidently the species is endangered elsewhere in the UK. Still doesn't justify the management decision as stated, in my opinion. However, it seems that even if my prediction of ultimate loss of the extirpation is to come true, there are populations elsewhere in the UK that will hopefully persist.

[Nadja]

Originally Posted by Salzy

Cool! How the heck did something so pretty like that go unnoticed for over a hundred years? That's just incredible.

Maybe because they live underground? lol :P
But I don't know really. No further info was available about that.
And yes, they are beautiful indeed!

Originally Posted by Super Secrets

What a cool spider! The male is super pretty and the female looks nice too. Reminds me of jumping spiders, although their lives are so different.

Yep, the male is looking very nice
I looked it up and jumping spiders indeed look like them. except for the eyes, I think jumping spiders have more noticable eyes. Ah well, I'm not a spider fan or anything so I'm just saying what I see at first sight and impression, hehe.

[Debbie]

They are creepy and i will never visit Lommel again lol

[Chanelle]

I'm terrified of spiders, but these are really pretty! Still extremely creepy, but pretty!

[Nadja]

Originally Posted by Debbie

They are creepy and i will never visit Lommel again lol

Never visit Belgium again then you mean.
Because they are going to place them elsewhere, but 'the public' is not allowed to know where...
Anyway, not in cities themselves, so you can keep visiting Deb

[Nadja]

I just saw on tv that people have started to locate every spider and replace them.

Because these spiders live underground, there is a kind of web on the ground where their tunnel starts. People are now looking for those webs and then they use a tool to dig them up. Like a tube they put on the ground and then push, so all the layers of ground are inside the tube and thus also the animal. Then it is put in a plastic tube to transport them to other places. Nobody but them can know where exacly they will be released for the animals their safety. People might go look for them if the know where they are released.