Sclerosomatidae | NatureSpot

All images on this website have been taken in Leicestershire and Rutland by NatureSpot members. We welcome new contributions - just register and use the Submit Records form to post your photos. Click on any image below to visit the species page. The RED / AMBER / GREEN dots indicate how easy it is to identify the species - see our Identification Difficulty page for more information. A coloured rating followed by an exclamation mark denotes that different ID difficulties apply to either males and females or to the larvae - see the species page for more detail.

Harvestmen

Harvestmen are arachnids, just like spiders, but are in the order Opiliones. They have a fused head and body and eight, usually very long, legs. The do not produce silk and stalk their prey of tiny invertebrates through the vegetation. Most mature and are readily seen in the Autumn, hence the name 'harvest'.

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Leicestershire and Rutland resources

Leicestershire Harvestmen - Jon Daws

Useful websites and publications

FSC Harvestmen Identikit - an interactive ID guide from the Field Studies Council

Harvestmen of Nottinghamshire - excellent photos and descriptions. Particularly useful as it is our neighbouring county with similar species.

The Harvestmen and Spider Recording Website has information, distribution maps and some images of UK species.

Harvestmen of the British Isles - one of the fold-out charts produced by the Field Studies Council - excellent value.

Harvestmen (Synopsis of the British Fauna) - though pricey (£29) this is THE book to get if you are serious about this group.

De Nederlandse Hooiwagons - though in Dutch, it has excellent illustrations and a free translation is available.

If you know of other websites or books that you would recommend, do let us know: info@naturespot.co.uk