Summary details for Bend-bearing Blunt-brow Spider (Silometopus incurvatus (O.P.-Cambridge, 1873))

Species Details

Species name
Silometopus incurvatus (O.P.-Cambridge, 1873)
Common name
Bend-bearing Blunt-brow Spider
Synonym
Silometopus incurvata
Taxonomy
Animalia :: Araneae :: Linyphiidae
habitat
short sward & bare ground

Distribution

The species is apparently restricted to sand dunes in the northern half of Britain, on the coast of North Yorkshire, Northumberland, East Lothian, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire and Islay. In Europe it has been recorded from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia.

Habitat and ecology

S. incurvatus occurs on sand dunes, in marram litter 8 - 20 cm above ground level, and in sea buckthorn litter. Adults have been found between February and June.

Status

UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. Although the spider is numerous at some sites, it has shown an apparently significant major decline in the past 30 years and is only recorded from five 10-km squares post-1992. Area of occupancy has declined from 17 hectads before 1992 to 5 since that date.

Threats

Possibly public pressure in some of the more southern sites.

Management and conservation

Control erosion and maintain healthy growth of marram on sand dunes. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).

Stats

First recorded
1869
Last recorded
2022
Total records
85
Total visits
81

Conservation status

Silometopus incurvatus
SourceReporting categoryDesignationDate designatedComments
Scottish Biodiversity List (incorporating 2007 updates and 2012 categorisation)Biodiversity Lists - ScotlandScottish Biodiversity List39234Terrestrial/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 speciesNationally Rare. Includes Red Listed taxa42979
A Review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22 (Sep 2017)Red listing based on 2001 IUCN guidelinesVulnerable42979This species has been found at 10 locations since 1993, and appears to have declined by just over 50%, and so is only marginally VU. Its sand-dune habitat has become increasingly fragmented by development (e.g. agriculture and golf courses) and is under increasing pressure from recreation, eutrophication and coastal erosion. Threats: Possibly public pressure in some of the more southern sites.
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 - Species of Principal Importance in England (section 41)Biodiversity Lists - EnglandEngland NERC S.4139753
UK list of Priority Habitats and SpeciesBiodiversity Action Plan UK list of priority speciesPriority Species39322not on former UK BAP list

Photos and media

Spatial distribution - hectad map

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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