ARACHNIDS - A diary of wildlife on Banstead Downs

spiders, harvestmen, ticks and mites

Common Harvestman [Phalangium opilio]

Adult - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 12 Jun 2025

Red Harvestman [Opilio canestrinii]

Male (?) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 28 Aug 2025

Castor Bean Tick [Ixodes ricinus]

Adult - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 14 Aug 2025

Castor Bean Tick [Ixodes ricinus]

mating pair on the underside of a Cuckoo-pint leaf; smaller male is upside down and underneath the female - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 18 Mar 2026

Oribatid mite [Damaeidae sp.]

tiny (1.5mm) mite of the Damaeidae family carrying soil and plant debris on its back as camouflage - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 02 Mar 2026

mite [Linopodes sp.]

a tiny (1mm body length) Linopodes mite on decaying bark in leaf litter - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 27 Feb 2026

mite [Euzetes globulus]

a tiny (1mm) E. globulus mite on decaying bark in leaf litter - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 27 Feb 2026

red velvet mite [Trombidiidae sp.]

Adult, possibly of genus Balaustia - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 11 Jul 2025

Meadow Brown [Maniola jurtina insularis]

Male of sub-species insularis with red Trombidium sp. mite at base of forewing, feeding on Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) – Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 10 Aug 2021

Gatekeeper [Pyronia tithonus britanniae]

Female of sub-species britanniae feeding on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), with red Trombidium sp. mite at base of hind wing – Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 21 Jul 2015