Arachnids
at Dunsany
Arachnids at Dunsany Estate play a quiet but vital role, helping to control insect populations and support the balance of the rewilded ecosystem.
Arachnids in Dunsany Estate
There are about 390 native spider species in Ireland.
Specific studies, have identified numerous spider taxa in certain habitats across Ireland but as yet we haven’t commissioned a defined study. We have identified 34 Arachnid species at Dunsany Estate but no formal ecological data yet.
We plan to formalise our Arachnid findings through university research in 2026.
Spider populations are dynamic, and accurate counts would require continuous, large-scale monitoring across diverse habitats.
Learn about the Arachnids in Dunsany Estate
Arachnids in Dunsany Estate
Garden Cross Spider (Araneus diadematus)
Commonly seen from June to November
Orb-web spider species
Females reach up to 15 mm; males around 9 mm
Builds webs at night and captures prey during the day
Takes up to two years to reach full maturity
Feeds on wasps, butterflies, and various flying insects
Arachnids in Dunsany Estate
Red Velvet Mite (Trombidiidae spp.)
Found worldwide on moist forest floors and soils
Bright red in colour, covered in fine hairs
Very small – typically 4 to 5 mm long
Often seen after rain, earning the nickname “rain bugs”
Eggs hatch when soil moisture levels rise sufficiently
Larvae are parasitic to other arthropods
Adults consume insect eggs and small invertebrates
