Linyphiid Key

A Revised and Updated Key to Linyphiids

Compiled by Lawrence Bee, March 2010

Introduction

The following key is based upon the Key produced by Michael Roberts in The Spiders of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 2 (1987) with the addition of species new to the UK since the publication of Robert's key.

With thanks to Peter Merrett, Ian Dawson and David Nellist for help with proofreading and to Mike Roberts for permission to adapt and upgrade his original key A Key to the Genera and Species of the British Linyphiidae

Download the PDFs here

The key is also available as an Excel spreadsheet and an interactive visualisation. 

References

  1. Minicia marginella
    • Roberts, M.J. 1993: Appendix to The Spiders of Great Britain and Ireland Harley Books, Colchester 16pp, pages 4 and 14
    • Snazell, R. 1992: Minicia marginella (Wider): a linyphiid spider new to Britain Newsl. Brit. Arachnol. Soc. 63:4-5
  2. Wabasso replicatus
    • Merrett, P. & Dawson, I.K. 2005: Revalidation of Wabasso replicatus (Holm, 1950), and description from Britain (Araneae: Linyphiidae) Bull. Br. Arachnol. Soc. 13 (4): 117-121
  3. Megalepthyphantes sp.nov.
    • Saaristo, M.I. 1997: Description of Megalepthyphantes pseudocollinus, n.sp. (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Micronetinae) Bull. Br. Arachnol.Soc. 10 (7): 257-259
    • Harvey, P. 2001: New to Britain: Megalepthyphantes collinus occidentalis (Machado, 1949)? Spider Recording Scheme Newsletter no. 39: 2
  4. Nothophantes horridus
    • Merrett, P. & Stevens, R.A. 1995: A new genus and species of linyphiid spider from south-west England (Araneae: Linyphiidae) Bull. Br. Arachnol.Soc. 10 (3): 118-120.
    • Merrett, P. & Stevens, R.A. 1999: The male of Nothophantes horridus Merrett & Stevens (Araneae: Linyphiidae) Bull. Br. Arachnol.Soc. 11 (4): 129-130.
  5. Neriene emphana
    • Dawson, I.K. & Merrett, P. 2002: Neriene emphana (Walckenaer, 1841), a linyphiid spider new to Britain (Araneae: Linyphiidae) Bull. Br. Arachnol.Soc. 12 (6): 295-296
  6. Meioneta fuscipalpa
    • Lee, P. & Merrett, P. 2001: Meioneta fuscipalpa (C.L. Koch, 1836), a linyphiid spider new to Britain (Araneae: Linyphiidae) Bull. Br. Arachnol.Soc. 12 (1): 10-12
  7. Meioneta mossica
    • Schikora, H.B. 1993: Meioneta mossica sp.n., a new spider close to M. saxatilis (Blackwall) from northern and central Europe. (Araneae: Linyphiidae) Bull. Br. Arachnol.Soc. 9 (5): 157-163
    • Schikora, H.B. 1995: Intraspecific variation in taxonomic characters, and notes on distribution and habitats of Meioneta mossica Schikora and M. saxatilis (Blackwall), two closely related spiders from northern and central Europe (Araneae: Linyphiidae) Bull. Br. Arachnol.Soc. 10 (2): 65-74.
  8. Lepthyphantes beckeri
    • Crocker, J. & Daws J. 1996: Spiders of Leicestershire and Rutland Loughborough Naturalists Club in association with Kairos Press. pp 74-75.
  9. Centromerus minutissimus
    • Merrett, P., Powell, D.F. & Maher, H. 1993: A new species of Centromerus from arable farmland in eastern England Bull. Br. Arachnol.Soc. 9 (6): 203-204.
  10. Porrhomma cambridgei
    • Merrett, P. 1994: Porrhomma cambridgei, replacement name for Porrhomma oblongum (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871), revalidated and redescribed from southern England. (Araneae: Linyphiidae) Bull. Br. Arachnol.Soc. 9 (9): 318-320
  11. Praestigia duffeyi
    • Marusuik, Y.M., Gnelitsa, V.A. & Koponen, S. 2008: A survey of Holarctic Linyphiidae (Araneae). 3. A review of the genus Praestigia Millidge, 1954 Bull. Br. Arachnol. Soc. 14 (5): 213-231.
  12. Lepthyphantes name changes
    • Merrett, P. 2004: Notes on the revision of British Lepthyphantes species Newsl. Br. Arachnol. Soc. 100: 20-21

Notes to Keys

  • NSR - New since Roberts (Roberts, M.J. 1987: The Spiders of Britain and Ireland Vol 2 Linyphiidae.) References refer to list above.
  • Locket & Millidge references indicate page no. of species description (NOT genitalia illustration) in Vol 2 unless otherwise stated.
  • Under 'General Appearance & Notes' italicised descriptions are additional to those given in Roberts 1987.
  • Names are from Roberts, M.J. 1987: The Spiders of Britain and Ireland Vol 2 Linyphiidae apart from new names for Lepthyphantes spp which are given for respective species in General Appearance and Notes column
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