A silent scuttle seen from the corner of the eye – there it is, a spider, bristle-legged on the cream-coloured carpet. It freezes for a moment and then dashes behind the chest of drawers. It’s a male giant house spider of a subspecies common in the West Country (Eratigena saeva). I can tell it is male by the large, club-like palps in front of the head, and also by the time of year. In late summer...
Country diary: I’m sure I’ve put this house spider outside – several times
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