Spider workshop at the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona

From October 28 to 30, the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona hosted the Spider Workshop, organized by Miquel Arnedo of the SGR Zoological Systematics and Evolution research group and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona. The event combined specialized talks and practical sessions, as well as a night field trip to the Vallvidrera marsh, on Saturday 25 October. 

An immersion in the world of spiders 

The workshop offered participants a series of talks on the biology, classification and evolution of spiders and their closest relatives. In addition, practical sessions were held to learn to identify spiders, with the active participation of students, researchers and arachnology enthusiasts. According to Miquel Arnedo, this type of activity contributes to better citizen training and promotes knowledge about these fascinating invertebrates. 

The night out experience 

One of the highlights of the workshop was the night field trip to the Vallvidrera swamp. This activity allowed participants to observe spiders in their natural habitat and study their behavior, including the process of weaving their webs. "The night trips offer a unique perspective on the behavior of these animals that can hardly be observed during the day or in closed environments," comments Arnedo. 

A positive and hopeful response for future activities 

The organizers are very satisfied with the reception of the workshop. "We believe that the participants really enjoyed the experience and left with a deeper knowledge of these animals," adds Arnedo. In addition, the success of this edition calls for new joint activities with the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona and other entities, with the aim of continuing to promote arachnology and scientific dissemination.