Summary details for Toad Spider (Nuctenea umbratica (Clerck, 1757))

Species Details

Species name: Nuctenea umbratica (Clerck, 1757)
Common name: Toad Spider
Synonyms: Aranea sexpunctata Linnaeus, 1758, Araneus umbraticus Clerck, 1757
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Araneidae
habitat: arboreal
habitat: decaying wood

Distribution

The species is widespread in Britain, but is scattered in the north and rare in northern Scotland. It is widespread in western and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology

The spider conceals itself under bark and in fissures in posts and fences during the daytime. In some areas it is a common resident of window and door frames. The body is flattened and this assists the spider to secrete itself in the cracks and fissures. This spider is nocturnal and builds a conspicuous orb web between its retreat and surrounding vegetation. Whilst the web is usually empty during the day, the spider can be found hidden away nearby. Adults of both sexes are found mainly between late spring and autumn, but females and occasionally males can be found during the winter.

Status

Common. Original author of profile: D. Marriott 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: 1820
Last recorded: 2025
Total records: 6,073
Total visits: 5,997

Conservation status

Nuctenea umbratica

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	42979

Photos and media

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.