Torphins is a village in upper Deeside, Aberdeenshire Scotland. There is nothing particularly special about the wood, it is a mixed species coniferous/deciduous wood, so things found there can probably be found in many other Scottish, British or even European woods. For more information on Torphins itself and the human population there go to Torphins.org.
| Insects, beetles 1, 2, ground beetles 1 2, springtails, earwigs, flies, true bugs, bumblebees, bees, wasps, sawflies, butterflies and moths 1 2 3 lacewings etc., dragonflies and damselflies, stoneflies, |
Flatworms |
Slugs/snails |
Worms/leeches |
Lice |
| Millipedes/centipedes etc. |
Spiders 1, 2, harvestmen, mites, ticks, etc. |
Woodlice, water fleas, cyclops |
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Tegenaria parietina
Usually found in or on buildings, but recently I've been finding them on walls and in dykes.
Can be seen year round, but females (the one on the left is a female) stay on the web, males wander in search of a mate in late summer and autumn, so are more likely to be seen.
Can be huge! This one had a body of 2 cm, and the leg span can be as much as 10 cm.
More on Tegenaria paretina and similar spiders
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Tegenaria duellica
Uaully found in houses or out buildings, this one was found on a path at the edge of the woods.
As with all tegenaria the males are more easily seen in late summer and autumn when they wander off in search of a mate.
Male body length ranges from 10 -14 mm.
Females look the same, but have a fatter body.
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Pardosa sp., a wolf spider.
Found year round in gardens and woods. The female is easier to spot in the summer as she carries her (usually beige or light coloured) egg sac around behind her.
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Trochosa sp., a wolf spider
In gardens and woods in silk lined burrows in the litter layer during the day, in the open when hunting at night. This is a female with her egg sac. She had one leg missing.
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Salticus sp., zebra spider or jumping spider.
Seen on sunny days on walls, fence posts, window frames and in colder weather in conservatories.
Body length 6 - 7 mm.
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Enoplognatha ovata
Found on vegetation. The female secures her egg sac under a leaf she has bent and held in place by silk.
The colouration is variable, but there are always black spots.
Female body length 4 - 6 mm, male 3 - 5 mm.
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