Summary details for Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata (Ohlert, 1865)

Distribution

Most records for H. rubrofasciata are from a small area of West Suffolk, West Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. It has also been recorded from isolated sites in East Suffolk, the New Forest, Hampshire, as well as old records from Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire and from Lincolnshire. A record shown in the provisional atlas (Harvey et al. 2002) for TL31 is now considered a data entry error. The species is widespread and fairly common in northern and central Europe, in fens, marshes and damp woodland.

Habitat and ecology

Generally found in damp habitats at ground level, mostly in fens but sometimes under or at the edge of carr woodland by the side of rides. Adults have been found in May, June, September and, at Chippenham Fen (Cambridgeshire) in November (D. Carr, pers. comm.)

Status

This species is abundant at some sites, but very local and restricted in range. It has been recorded from three locations since 1992. There appears to be an ongoing decline in area of occupancy from six hectads before 1992 to three since that date.

Threats

Drainage of fens is the most important threat. However, it appears to be more tolerant of the growth of scrub than most other fenland species.

Management and conservation

Maintaining the water table in fens is very important. Encroachment on open fen by carr woodland is possibly less of a threat to this species than to other typical fenland species, as it occurs widely in wet woodland in Europe. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).