Summary details for Araniella alpica (L. Koch, 1869)

Species Details

Species name: Araniella alpica (L. Koch, 1869)
Synonym: Araneus alpicus (L. Koch, 1869)
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Araneidae
habitat: arboreal

Distribution

The spider has been recorded from a few sites in southern England. It was recorded from Great Kimble in Buckinghamshire and from the New Forest in South Hampshire early in the 20th century. More recent records are scattered in central southern England. In Europe the spider is widespread but uncommon.

Habitat and ecology

Woodland. A. alpica has been recorded from trees, particularly yew and beech. It has also been found on dogwood Cornus sanguinea, and in chalk grassland (at Melbury Down) but this was in close proximity to woodland. Mature males and females occur in May and June.

Status

The spider has undergone a major decline in area of occupancy. Although identification of Araniella spp. requires critical examination under the microscope, males at least are likely to be recognised in the field by arachnologists as having sufficiently distinctive coloration to mean that it is unlikely to be under-recorded. Records should however be confirmed by experienced arachnologists familiar with this species.

Threats

The loss of old yew and beech woodland and also of woods containing mature stands of these trees.

Management and conservation

Where woodlands in the south of England contain ancient and mature yew and beech stands management to encourage their continued presence would provide the most suitable conditions for A. alpica, but more information is needed on the ecology of this species. Half the known sites have SSSI designation, one of which is owned by the National Trust. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).

Stats

First recorded: 1800
Last recorded: 2012
Total records: 25
Total visits: 24

Conservation status

Araniella alpica

Source	Reporting category	Designation	Date designated	Comments
A Review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22 (Sep 2017)	Rare and scarce species	Nationally Rare. Includes Red Listed taxa	01/09/2017
A Review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22 (Sep 2017)	Red listing based on 2001 IUCN guidelines	Endangered	01/09/2017	Recorded from only a few sites in southern England. B2ab(ii) is justified because of a major decline in AOO. This is unlikely to be attributable to underrecording because, although identification of Araniella spp. requires critical microscopical examination, males at least have sufficiently distinctive coloration that they are likely to be recognised in the field by arachnologists. Threats: The loss of old yew and beech woodland and also of woods containing mature stands of these trees.

Photos and media

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Spatial distribution - hectad map

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Thresholds:

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Temporal distribution - records by year

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