Welcome to the Fen Raft Spider website
This site is currently under reconstruction – please bear with us while work is in progress
This site has been established to promote the understanding and conservation of one of Europe’s largest, most beautiful but least common species of spider, the Fen Raft Spider Dolomedes plantarius. The content is largely UK-based but we hope that it will also serve as an international forum for promoting the exchange, collation and dissemination of knowledge about the biology, status and practical conservation of this species. The site also includes information on Europe’s other Raft spider species, Dolomedes fimbriatus.
The site is run as part of the UK conservation and research programme for Dolomedes plantarius. This includes monitoring, conservation management and translocations led by a partnership that includes Natural England, the Suffolk and Sussex Wildlife Trusts, the Broads Authority, the British Arachnological Society, Buglife Crymu and the RSPB. It also includes research into the autecology, molecular ecology and evolution of this species at the University of Nottingham. Many other organisations and individuals have contributed generously to the project – please see the full acknowledgements.
This site is designed primarily as a hub for information on the biology, distribution, classification and identification of D. plantarius, and on its conservation, particularly in Britain. It also embraces art inspired by this stunning species, and presents opportunities to contribute information and practical help to further its conservation.
Many photographers have very kindly allowed the use their images on this site. Please respect their copyright and contact us to enquire about use of any of the images.