Summary details for Trochosa robusta (Simon, 1876)

Distribution

Apart from two old records from Yorkshire and Durham, which may be considered doubtful, the species is only recorded from the southern half of England. Most inland records of the species may be based on misidentifications. It is widespread in north-western and central Europe, except Scandinavia, and has not been recorded from Ireland.

Habitat and ecology

T. robusta occurs mainly on stony calcareous grassland, especially on cliff-tops and under-cliff on the south coast. Males are adult from February to June, and again in September and October, females are probably present for most of the year. The female makes a shallow burrow under a stone.

Status

Most old records are doubtful, because of confusion with the common T. ruricola (De Geer) and new records should be checked by an experienced arachnologist familiar with this species. All definite recent records are from calcareous grassland, landslip or coastal cliffs. The species may be fairly numerous in some places, especially on the coast, but is very local and has apparently undergone substantial decline.

Threats

Most sites are in fairly inaccessible places such as cliffs or old quarries which are unlikely to be threatened by agriculture.

Management and conservation

Soft-rock cliff sites should be maintained in their existing state without sea defences which would cause stabilisation and changes in vegetation structure. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).