Summary details for Dismodicus elevatus (C.L. Koch, 1838)

Species Details

Species name: Dismodicus elevatus (C.L. Koch, 1838)
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Linyphiidae
habitat: arboreal

Distribution

The species is widely scattered from the Scottish border to the far north, but known from few localities. It is common in the ancient pine forest at Abernethy, the only site with recent records. It is widespread in northern and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology

Caledonian pine forest and conifer plantations. D. elevatus occurs on tall heather, gorse and juniper, usually near or under pines, or on low branches of pine. Adults of both sexes are found in May, June and July, females also in August and September.

Status

Recorded from only two hectads since 1992, showing an apparent decline of over 70% in hectads with spider records both before and after that date (from 7 to 2). However, unlike some rare Scottish spiders, it is not restricted to ancient Caledonian pine forests, so it may not be as scarce as the present records suggest.

Threats

As it is not confined to ancient Caledonian pine, there is probably no serious threat.

Management and conservation

Maintain old heather, gorse and juniper in association with pines. Abernethy Forest is an RSPB reserve. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).

Stats

First recorded: 1900
Last recorded: 2021
Total records: 74
Total visits: 74

Conservation status

Dismodicus elevatus

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	Vulnerable	01/09/2017	This species is associated with Caledonian pine forest and conifer plantations, and is normally found by beating, especially pine and juniper. Since 1993 it has been restricted to four hectads (three locations) in the western Cairngorms, with the most recent records from Abernethy Forest in 2013, where it was found to be common. It is possible that it is under-recorded at some of its former sites, hence downgraded from EN to VU, but it is of concern that its range appears to have contracted to this single area. Threats: Potential threats include catastrophic damage to its habitat by such agencies as fire and recently introduced tree diseases potentially affecting both pine and juniper.

Photos and media

No photos or media files available

Spatial distribution - hectad map

Click on one of the date ranges in the key to highlight that particular range. Click anywhere else on the map to go back to all three date ranges.

Thresholds:

Move mouse cursor over dot for info

Rejected records are excluded from this map. Unverified records are included.

Temporal distribution - records by year

Records that span more than one year are not included in this chart.