World’s oldest known spider dies, aged 43

 The world’s oldest known spider has died at the age of 43, outliving its nearest rival by 15 years, Australian scientists have reported.

The female gaius villosus, or trapdoor spider, had been under observation in the wild since its birth in 1974.

The research, published by the journal Pacific Conservation Biology, is the life’s work of Barbara York Main, 88.

Leanda Mason, the lead author and a student of Prof York Main, said: “We’re really miserable about it. We were hoping she could have made it to 50 years old.”