Pardosa amentata (Clerck, 1757)... Probably.

There are a number of Pardosa in the UK, and, without manhandling it under a magnifying glass, I cannot be absolutely certain that this is not, in fact, Pardosa hortensis. However, the general appearance is more in line with known P. amentata and I'll allow myself a little uncertainty in order to let the spider carry on spidering around. The distinct dorsal strip on the cephalothorax, in addition to the white spots along the abdomen, seem to favour P. amentata. Location and more distinctive features would seem to rule out the rest.




Time for a spider:

Photographed in March 2012, in Bosham, West Sussex, UK. Olympus E-420 DSLR with Zuiko 40-150mm lens and 3 KOOD magnifiers.

This lovely little Spotted Wolf Spider belongs to:

- Eukaryota
  - Animalia
    - Eumetazoa
      - Bilateralia
        - Nephrozoa

See also Synchiropus splendidus, Rana temporaria, Chiromantis xerampelina, Hipposideros vittatus, Thelotornis capensis, Trachylepis varia, Zootoca vivipara, Lygodactylus capensis, Troglodytes troglodytes, Chalcophaps indica, Ardea goliath, Sterna hirundo, Burhinus vermiculatus and Tockus alboterminatus.

            - Protostomia
              - Ecdysozoa
                - Arthropoda

See also Heteropternis thoracica, Humbe tenuicornis, Cyathosternum prehensile, Lobosceliana loboscelis, Stictogryllacris punctata, Sibylla, Chloromyia formosa, Senaspis haemorrhoa, Helophilus pendulus, Episyrphus balteatus, Diasemopsis meigenii, Metadon inermis, Dolichotachina caudata, Megistocera filipes, Panorpa germanica, Metisella willemi, Acada biseriata, Anthocharis cardamines, Laelia robusta, Zebronia phenice, Crambus pascuella, Phyllobius pomaceus, Otiorhynchus atroapterus, Malachius bipustulatus, Oedemera noobilis,Cheilomenes lunata, Melolontha melolontha, Neojulodis vittipennis, Demetrias atricapillus, Anthia fornasiini, Synagris proserpina, Vespula germanica, Astata tropicalis, Andrena nigroaenea, Hagenomyia tristis, Pephricus, Anoplocnemis curvipes, Ranatra,Grypocoris stysi, Rhyothemis semihyalina, Pseudagrion hageni, Enallagma cyathigerum, Lestinogomphus angustus and Ligia oceanica.

                  - Chelicerata
                    - Arachnida

See also Dicranopalpus ramosus

                      - Micrura
                        - Megoperculata
                          - Araneae
                            - Opisthothelae
                              - Araneomorphae
                                - Neocribellatae
                                  - Araneoclada
                                    - Entelegynae

See also Hyllus argyrotoxus, Argiope bruennichi and Enoplognatha ovata.

                                      - Lycosoidea
                                        - Lycosidae

See also Alopecosa barbipes.

                                          - Pardosinae 

and, I'm reasonably certain,

Pardosa amentata

(Clerck, 1757)

As a wolf spider, this lovely little creature is an active hunter of small invertebrates in the undergrowth. Less active than you might think - anything from days to almost a month can pass between it needing a meal.

It is - as with almost all spiders - venomous, but this venom is intended for their prey and of less concern than a bee-sting. Additionally, these spiders are considerably more difficult to incite to bite than a bee is to sting.