British Arachnological Society
Founded in 1958, it is one of the oldest societies specializing in this animal group, publishing a journal (Arachnology) and a Newsletter three times a year.
SC044090)The society originated in the 1950s, when it was suggested to the British arachnologists G. H. (Ted) Locket and A. F. (Frank) Millidge that they should run a spider identification course.
The group's aim was to exchange information between workers, and initial membership comprised ten people with subscriptions in 1959 of five shillings (25p).
Further field courses were held in subsequent years at Flatford and at Malham in Yorkshire, led by arachnologists such as Doug Clark, John Cooke, Eric Duffey and Ted Locket.
The reprint library was also founded at about this time and regular field courses training up a new generation of arachnologists continued.
A formal constitution was adopted, Eric Duffey became its first President and David Mackie continued as Secretary and Treasurer before handing over to John Parker.
It maintains an extensive library of books, monographs and reprints (many as pdf files), which can be made available to members upon request.
Other council posts include: Librarian, Editors of both Arachnology and the Newsletter, Distribution Manager, Sales Manager, Conservation Officer, Education & Publicity Officer, Web Master, and the Organisers of the respective Spider, Harvestman and Pseudoscorpion Recording Schemes, as well as additional ordinary council members.
The Newsletter of the British Arachnological Society is a more informal publication, including observations on arachnids and other short papers of academic interest, reports of meetings, obituaries, historical notes and book reviews, etc.
In recent years it has also included the Spider Recording Scheme News, a supplement (edited formerly by Peter Harvey and now by Richard Gallon) largely devoted to the occurrence, distribution and autecology of spiders and other arachnids within the British Isles; including rare or difficult to identify species.
It has also published two important books: a Provisional Atlas of the British Spiders and a guide to the Gnaphosid Genera of the World.
The Harvestman Recording Scheme provides information on seasonality and habitats as well as distribution maps, and can be accessed on the SRS website.
