Species Details
- Species name
- Pelecopsis radicicola (L. Koch, 1872)
- Synonyms
- Pelecopsis thoracatum (Chyzer & Kulczynski), Lophocarenum radicicola (L. Koch, 1872)
- Taxonomy
- Animalia :: Araneae :: Linyphiidae
- short sward & bare ground
Distribution
In Britain, the species has been recorded from the South Downs near Heyshott, West Sussex; in the Mendips at Rodney Stoke NNR, North Somerset; Nupend Wood SSSI, Fownhope and Pentaloe Glen, Haugh Wood in Herefordshire; Fontmell Down, Dorset; Staverton Park, East Suffolk. The species is widespread in north-western and central Europe.Habitat and ecology
Most British records are from among grass roots in chalk or limestone grassland, but it has also been found in a glade of grass and bracken in Staverton Park, which lies on a base-poor sandy soil. Adults of both sexes are found between June and October.Status
The spider was found in numbers at each of its sites except Rodney Stoke. It has not been recorded in West Sussex since 1952, Fontmell Down since 1979 or Staverton Park since 1972. It has been collected from just two locations since 1992, an apparent decline of 33% since before that date.Threats
The loss of semi-natural dry grassland to intensive farming, either arable or livestock, will have contributed to a decline in the habitat available for this species. Conversely, the neglect of suitable habitat and the decline in rabbit-grazing, with ensuing invasion by scrub or bracken, is also likely to have been damaging.Management and conservation
Control scrub invasion on sites where it is known to occur. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).Stats
- First recorded
- 1800
- Last recorded
- 2023
- Total records
- 26
- Total visits
- 26
Conservation status
Pelecopsis radicicola
| 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) | Rare and scarce species | Nationally Rare. Includes Red Listed taxa | 42979 | |
| 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 | Endangered | 42979 | The spider was formerly found in numbers at each of its sites except Rodney Stoke, Somerset. It has not been recorded in West Sussex since 1952, Suffolk since 1972, or Dorset since 1979. It has been collected from just two locations since 1993, and exhibits a substantial decline. Threats: The loss of semi-natural dry grassland to intensive farming, either arable or livestock, will have contributed to a decline in the habitat available for this species. Conversely, the neglect of suitable habitat and the decline in rabbit-grazing, with ensuing invasion by scrub or bracken, is also likely to have been damaging. |
Photos and media
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Spatial distribution - hectad map
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Thresholds:
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Temporal distribution - records by year
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Temporal distribution - records by week
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