Summary details for Pirata tenuitarsis Simon, 1876

Distribution

The spider may be numerous in suitable habitat, but is local. The species appears to be widespread on southern heathland, in north-west Wales, and the mosses of Cheshire and Shropshire but is otherwise very scattered in the southern half of Britain. It is widespread in central southern Europe but with records as far north as south-west Sweden (Michelucci & Tongiorgi 1975; Kronestedt 1980a). It was first recorded in Ireland at Pollardstown Fen, Co. Kildare (van Helsdingen 1997).

Habitat and ecology

P. tenuitarsis and P. piraticus generally have quite distinct habitats, at least in the south. P. tenuitarsis occurs in acid bogs, with most records from Sphagnum bogs, often in the vicinity of bog pools, and wet heathland.

Status

The presence of P. tenuitarsis in England was first established by Kronestedt (1980), who discovered specimens in the collections of the Natural History Museum wrongly identified as P. piraticus. It is fairly widespread in southern Britain but apparently local.

Threats

Drainage and degradation of acid bogs.

Management and conservation

Protection of wet heaths and bogs from drainage, peat digging and excessive trampling. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).