Summary details for Tapinocyba praecox (O.P.-Cambridge, 1873)

Distribution

The species is widespread but has a very patchy Distribution: in Britain, and appears to be absent from much of the west. It is widespread in north-western and central Europe, but has not been recorded from the north of Sweden or from the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Habitat and ecology

T. praecox may be found in a variety of habitats including the ground layer in grassland, on heathland, in leaf litter and also by sweeping short vegetation. In Berkshire, Duffey (1956) captured both sexes between January and April, and found that the species was a common aeronaut. In North Wales, Pearson and White (1964) captured adults between February and July with most activity from March to May. Our data show a peak of adults of both sexes in spring, a smaller peak of males in late autumn/winter, with occasional adults collected throughout the year.

Status

Local, but the spider may sometimes be found in abundance. It is less common than T. pallens in the north. Original author of profile: D.R. Nellist 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.