Summary details for Agroeca brunnea (Blackwall, 1833)

Distribution

The species is widespread but scattered in most of England, with few records in the south-west and north, Wales and Scotland. It is widespread in north-western and central Europe, but has not been recorded from Ireland.

Habitat and ecology

This spider, the largest of the Agroeca species to occur in Britain, is found mainly in woodland at ground level amongst leaf litter, grasses or other low vegetation, but also in grassland and heathland situations. The female suspends the egg-sac within a bell-shaped covering of silk on a stem of grass or some other low plant with the opening of the bell at the bottom. The silken bell is then covered with particles of earth which may afford protection from some potential predators (Bristowe 1958). Adults of both sexes have been found in most months of the year, but mostly in spring/early summer and in the autumn/early winter.

Status

Local. Original author of profile: R. Ruffell. Text based on Harvey, P.R., Nellist, D.R. & Telfer, M.G. (eds) 2002. Provisional atlas of British spiders (Arachnida, Araneae), Volumes 1 & 2. Huntingdon: Biological Records Centre.