Summary details for Scotophaeus scutulatus (L. Koch, 1866)

Scotophaeus scutulatus (L. Koch, 1866) Status: Synanthropic. Only three British specimens have been recorded, but as it is widespread in Europe there seems no reason to suppose that it is restricted to one area of Britain. Its close similarity in appearance to S. blackwalli means that it may have been overlooked. Distribution: First recorded in Britain in 1989, it has now been recorded from two locations, both in Colchester, Essex. The species is widespread in Europe, occurring in Belgium and almost the whole of France (Grimm 1985). Habitat and ecology: A female was found on a bedroom wall by the author of the profile on 7th October 1989. An immature male was found on the stairs of the same dwelling on 19th July 1994 and subsequently matured in captivity on 2nd August 1994. An adult male was found just over 5 km to the west on 11th September 2000 at the author's current home (Ruffell 2001). This species, like S. blackwalli, is a nocturnal wanderer and has a similar mousy appearance. In Roberts (1995) the period of maturity is given as the same as S. blackwalli. Author of profile: R. Ruffell 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.