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Episode 16

Saving Species Series 2
Episode 16 of 30

Presented by Brett Westwood. A team of biologists are on the hunt for the Horrid Ground Weaver, a miniscule hairy creature found, it is thought, in only one place in the UK.

16/30 The Horrid Ground Weaver is a spider that was discovered in 1989 in two quarries near Plymouth. It was last seen in 1997 since which one quarry has been developed, so it now survives in just one place on the earth.
Buglife are working with Plymouth University and the People's Trust for Endangered Species to try to re-find this extraordinary creature and then assess what conservation measures need to be put in place. It's very small though...a money spider - and bristly (horrid) so not easy to find. Brett Weswood met with Andrew Whitehouse and Duncan Allen from Buglife at the quarry and tried various field techniques to find the Horrid Ground Weaver including: bendy drinking straws, pitfall traps and the "BugVac" - an insect hoover! But did we find it? Samples have to go back to lab for microscopic analysis - we'll let you know.

Also in the programme: The latest news on Indian Vulture conservation - and the release of the European Cranes on the Somerset Levels.

Presenter: Brett Westwood
Producer: Mary Colwell
Editor: Julian Hector.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Thu 8 Sep 2011 21:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Episode 15Series 2

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Episode 17Series 2

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Broadcasts

  • Tue 6 Sep 2011 11:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Thu 8 Sep 2011 21:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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