Species Details
- Species name
- Philodromus margaritatus (Clerck, 1757)
- Common name
- Lichen Running-spider
- Synonyms
- Philodromus levipes (Linnaeus, 1758), Philodromus pallidus Blackwall
- Taxonomy
- Animalia :: Araneae :: Philodromidae
- arboreal
- decaying wood
Distribution
The species is known from scattered localities in the south of England and central Scotland. It is widespread in western and central Europe, but has not been recorded from Ireland.Habitat and ecology
P. margaritatus occurs on trunks of trees, both pines and broad-leaved, especially when these are covered with lichens. It has also been found on electricity pylons near pine trees and sometimes in gardens on apple trees, etc. It is variable in colour, and camouflaged to resemble lichen on which it sits. Adults are found in May and June.Status
UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. The spider is very local, and although it has excellent camouflage its microhabitat would be searched by arachnologists. It appears to have undergone long-term decline.Threats
The felling of old, lichen-covered trees and degradation of habitat supporting these.Management and conservation
Ensure that old lichen covered trees are given adequate protection, and at sites where they occur a succession of younger trees is provided to replace them when they eventually die. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).Stats
- First recorded
- 1890
- Last recorded
- 2024
- Total records
- 106
- Total visits
- 105
Conservation status
Philodromus margaritatus
| Source | Reporting category | Designation | Date designated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Biodiversity List (incorporating 2007 updates and 2012 categorisation) | Biodiversity Lists - Scotland | Scottish Biodiversity List | 39234 | Terrestrial/Freshwater Species. Added to UK BAP list in 2007. Criteria: Decline |
| 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 | Near Threatened | 42979 | Although this species has excellent camouflage, on lichen-covered tree trunks, its microhabitat is likely to have been be searched by arachnologists; the slight apparent decline is thefore expected to be real. Does not yet qualify for VU as known from more than ten locations. Threats: The felling of old, lichen-covered trees and degradation of habitat supporting these. |
| Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 - Species of Principal Importance in England (section 41) | Biodiversity Lists - England | England NERC S.41 | 39753 | |
| UK list of Priority Habitats and Species | Biodiversity Action Plan UK list of priority species | Priority Species | 39322 | not on former UK BAP list |
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.
Temporal distribution - records by week
__