Spooky species

6 species to be spooked by this autumn

As the nights draw in and the weather turns wild, as pumpkins ripen and Halloween lurks just around the corner, autumn is the perfect time to learn about and even look for some of our spookiest, most spectacular wildlife. Some of the most unusual species have evolved quirky traits to survive in a competitive world, bewitching and befuddling humans for centuries. Fungi erupt out of the ground in an array of shapes, sizes and smells, like stinkhorn fungus, with a phallic shape and the pungent scent of rotting meat. It’s the time when house spiders appear in the corners of our bedrooms. The males are looking for mates to breed with; after repeated copulation, he will die and be devoured by his partner. Bats gather in autumn roosts in caves, ancient woodlands and older buildings, like churches, emerging at dusk to feast for the night. Of course, none of these species are dangerous, or even scary. This is evolution at work, a touch freaky, but fascinating.

Be spellbound this autumn

Wildlife Trusts across the UK run guided walks and events around Halloween to see autumn wildlife up close. Search for your nearest at

wildlifetrusts.org/ events

Six scary species

1 Devil’s finger fungus

This smelly, strange looking fungus has eye-catching red tentacles that splay out like a starfish. This fungus smells like rotting flesh which attract insects. They are rare, but can be found amongst leaf litter under trees.

2 ‘Zombie’ ladybird

Meet the parasitic wasp that protects itself from predators by turning a ladybird into a “bodyguard”. The female wasp injects an egg into the ladybird, the larva munches on its host’s internal tissues before breaking out through the abdomen.

3 Barn owl

Beautiful and beguiling, the ghostly barn owl haunts grasslands, wetlands and farmland in search for a tasty snack – a small rodent or bird for instance. They attack from above on silent wings, and can turn their heads 270°.

4 Death’s-head hawk-moth

So called for the skull-andcrossbones pattern on their abdomen, this large moth emits a squeak when alarmed, made by expelling air through its proboscis. The species is nocturnal, and the caterpillars even eat deadly nightshade.

5 Wolf spider

Wolf spiders are expert hunters which track, chase and leap upon their prey – much like actual wolves, but much smaller. They don’t make webs, but cast a silk strand into the air to form a ‘parachute’, which allows them to float on the wind.

6 Witches’ broom

Looking like a dense tangled bird’s nest, witches’ brooms are a growth on a tree that results in bunches of stem, leaf or root material growing from one point on a tree. They are caused by microorganisms, usually a fungus, virus or bacteria, and are a type of gall.