Dicranopalpus ramosus agg.

A species of harvestman. Males are up to 4 mm long, females can reach up to 6 mm. Both sexes have very long legs (especially the second pair, which can reach up to 5 cm), another thing that makes this species easily recognisable is the fact that its pedipalps appear to be forked.

Dicranopalpus caudatus has recently been split from D. ramosus. See the news story explaining the species split.

Unless microscopic examination of the features detailed in Wijnhoven and Prieto, 2015 have been carried out specimens should be recorded as Dicranopalpus ramosus agg.

Mostly on outer walls and fences.

August to November.

The species has spread across Europe from Morocco. As early as 1957, it was reported in Bournemouth in southern England, from where it spread. It reached Scotland in 2000.

Now quite frequent in Britain.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

This species was split into two in 2015, see: https://www.naturespot.org/node/121303

See: http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/r/view/s/Dicranopalpus%20ramosus%20sens.%20str.

ID Guide: https://arthropedia.co.uk/Dicranopalpus_ramosus_agg_ID.pdf