The Lyons Share

Check out this strange palp! The long curved structure is noted as a 'hooped embolus' in Roberts. It belongs to a small spider known as Microlinyphia pusilla (species 3830). I swept it from the leat at Woods Mill yesterday. It was an interesting day as I discovered Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor, new to the site. Within half an hour, after showing a colleague, another one had been located. Amazing that this had not been recorded there before then two in one day! With any luck, tomorrow morning I'll be watching Goshawks in the Brecks!