Summary details for Entelecara erythropus (Westring, 1851)

Distribution

The species is widespread but patchily distributed in Britain. It has a Palaearctic Distribution: , widespread in north-western and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology

E. erythropus occurs under stones and in detritus in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from heathland and gardens to broad-leaved and coniferous woodland. The species may also be beaten from trees and shrubs. It is a frequent aeronaut. Adults are found from early spring through to autumn. Roberts (1969) has drawn attention to a possible environmental association between this species and Amaurobius similis whereby E. erythropus is able to scavenge and spin small webs of its own in the Amaurobius web without fear of attack. There is some evidence that the Entelecara is distasteful to the Amaurobius. Females have been recorded in most months of the year, but there seems to be a peak from early to mid-summer.

Status

Not uncommon. Original author of profile: D.R. Nellist 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.