\n However, don’t despair; the huge growth in the number of Fen Raft Spiders is a conservation success story.\n<\/p>\n
\n The spider was on the verge of extinction in the UK in 2010, but has thankfully made a comeback thanks to the efforts of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.\n<\/p>\n
\n Huge conservation news! \ud83d\udd78\ufe0f\ud83d\udd77\ufe0f<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve helped the UK\u2019s LARGEST spider come back from the brink of extinction!<\/p>\n
While they may look big and scary, the fen raft spider is harmless and plays a VITAL role within healthy aquatic ecosystems. However, 15 years ago, they almost became\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/tc3owOFVqV<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n \u2014 Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) August 21, 2024<\/a>\n <\/p>\n The\u00a0Fen Raft Spider<\/p>\n \n The Fen Raft Spider’s diet includes other spiders, damselflies, dragonfly larvae and even fish and tadpoles.\n<\/p>\n \n They are easiest to spot in grazing marsh ditches from June to September.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThe Fen Raft Spider is one of the UK\u2019s rarest invertebrates and we are proud of the role our reserves and teams have played in its recovery,\u201d Tim Strudwick, the RSPB Mid Yare nature reserves site manager where many of the spiders are homed, told the MailOnline<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThese spiders have an important role in maintaining the rich aquatic diversity found in the grazing ditches on our reserves. The females are impressive in size, but also beautiful \u2013 they are truly special to see,\u201d Mr Strudwick added.\n<\/p>\n \n The spiders are not venomous but are semi-aquatic and can run across the water\u2019s surface to capture their prey.\n<\/p>\n \n Recommended reading:\n<\/p>\n \n BBC researcher confirms tarantulas inhabit these parts of UK<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n UK’s confirmed biggest spider might be lurking in buildings<\/a>\n<\/p>\n