European Harvestman

Phalangium opilio.

I found this female in the greenhouse this morning. Harvestmen belong to the Arachnids, but they are not spiders. She was resting on the frost cloth that I use to shade the tomato plants from the harsh sunshine. The colour on the left is poppies and daylilies through the polythene wall.

Unseen below her are several bright yellow ripe tomatoes, my first of the season. They are Gold Nuggets, which are very prolific, and have a rich flavour. The red tomatoes are a long way off ripening.

Our early Christmas went off very nicely. Thank you to all the well wishers yesterday.

Best seen large.