Summary details for Robertus scoticus Jackson, 1914

Species Details

Species name: Robertus scoticus Jackson, 1914
Synonym: Robertus monticola Simon, 1914
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Theridiidae
habitat: shaded woodland floor

Distribution

R. scoticus has been recorded from the Black Wood of Rannoch and the Old Wood of Meggernie in Perthshire. It is widespread but rare in northern Europe.

Habitat and ecology

This species has been recorded only from Caledonian pine forest where it is found in moss and pine litter in damp areas of the forest. Males have been found between August and October and females between June and October.

Status

This species was only ever recorded from two 10 km squares in Britain and from only one since 1992. It is only known from very small areas.

Threats

Caledonian pine forests have been under threat from commercial forestry.

Management and conservation

Both of the sites are SSSIs and are being managed to maintain the open nature of the forest. Regeneration of the forest is suppressed by deer grazing and exclosures have thus been set up. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).

Stats

First recorded: 1913
Last recorded: 2010
Total records: 26
Total visits: 24

Conservation status

Robertus scoticus

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	Critically Endangered	42979	Confined to the Black Wood of Rannoch. No other pinewood area appears to provide the cool, damp Sphagnum habitat it requires in old-growth Scots Pine forest. It is probably no longer present in the near-by Meggernie woods, its only other recorded location, where it has not been seen since 1965. Threats include climate change and catastrophic habitat damage by such agencies as fire and recently introduced tree diseases. Dense regeneration of pine would also affect suitable habitat. Threats: Caledonian pine forests have been under threat from commercial forestry.
Scottish Biodiversity List (incorporating 2007 updates and 2012 categorisation)	Biodiversity Lists - Scotland	Scottish Biodiversity List	38685	Terrestrial/Freshwater Species.

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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