Summary details for Kaestneria dorsalis (Wider, 1834)

Species Details

Species name: Kaestneria dorsalis (Wider, 1834)
Synonyms: Kaestneria claytoniae (Blackwall), Kaestneria dorsalis subsp. anthracina, Bathyphantes dorsalis (Wider, 1834)
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Linyphiidae
habitat: tall sward & scrub

Distribution

The species is widespread but scattered in Britain as far north as central Scotland. It is widespread in north-western and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology

K. dorsalis is a spider of scrub and open woodland, including gardens and churchyards. It is perhaps most frequently beaten off gorse, but also off hawthorn, oak, ash, willow, pine, yew and ornamental shrubs (Crocker & Daws 1996). It may be swept from grass and dog's-mercury in woodland rides, and is occasionally taken from woodland leaf litter. The species seems to have a short season with adults of both sexes recorded from April to July, with most activity in May and June. Sub-adult females may be found in the winter, along with the occasional adult female.

Status

Somewhat local. It is possibly less common now than in the past (Smith 1982). Original author of profile: J.M. Newton 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.

Stats

First recorded: 1890
Last recorded: 2025
Total records: 1,414
Total visits: 1,373

Conservation status

Kaestneria dorsalis

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)	Red listing based on 2001 IUCN guidelines	Least concern	01/09/2017

Photos and media

Spatial distribution - hectad map

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Temporal distribution - records by year

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