hedgehog in December !

Removed a hedgehog from the road in Creigiau yesterday afternoon and placed it under a hedge for safety. Don't think I've ever seen one this late in the year before.

Opilio canestrinii

This huge harvestman was on our house wall a couple of days ago.

Opilio canestrinii

This is the second time I've seen canestrinii in the garden, the first being in August last year. It is described as an invasive species: it was first recorded in the UK as recently as 1999 and has spread rapidly, being recorded in Glamorgan for the first time in 2007 (by Greg Jones). Since then there have been quite a few records from across the county.

On the continent it is said to have replaced two other Opilio species in some areas, so it seems that it is not a benign invader - which is a shame as it is rather handsome. This one had a leg span of a whopping 11.5cm. The orangey red body and almost black legs, combined with the large size, are distinctive.