Summary details for Pelecopsis mengei (Simon, 1884)

Distribution

The species is widespread in Wales, northern England and much of Scotland. It is absent from most of southern England. It is widespread in north-western and central Europe, but has not been recorded from Belgium.

Habitat and ecology

P. mengei is characteristic of damp mossy habitats such as sphagnum bogs especially those with ericaceous shrubs or invading pine and birch, and western mossy oak woods. In altitude it ranges from lowland bogs to at least 650 m in Dumfries-shire at the foot of a cliff. In Essex its presence in the Stour Valley and an adjacent glacial mere may represent a glacial relict population (P. Harvey, pers. comm.). Adult females occur throughout the year, males from spring to early autumn.

Status

The spider is local in northern England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, but very rare in southern and south-eastern England. 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.