Summary details for Bolyphantes alticeps

Distribution

The species is widespread in northern England and eastern Scotland, but absent from southern England and most of Wales. This Palaearctic linyphiid is widespread in north-western and central Europe, but has not been recorded from the Netherlands. A male and female were recently recorded in Cruagh Forest on the Dublin mountains, Co. Dublin, Ireland (Nolan 1999).

Habitat and ecology

B. alticeps occurs in a variety of habitats including wet flushes, grassland, and coniferous and broad-leaved woodland. In these habitats the spider lives amongst low vegetation or amongst loose leaf litter. A study in the Pyrenees mountains revealed that B. alticeps only occurred in the uppermost part of the forested area between 1500 and 1900 m (Bosmans et al. 1986). Adult females have been recorded between August and December and males in September and October.

Status

The species is most frequent in Scotland, local in northern England and Wales. Original author of profile: R.C. Gallon 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.