Summary details for Walckenaeria clavicornis (Emerton, 1882)

Species Details

Species name: Walckenaeria clavicornis (Emerton, 1882)
Synonyms: Cornicularia karpinskii (O.P.-Cambridge, 1873), Walckenaeria karpinskii (De Lessert, 1910), Walckenaeria pavitans (O.P.-Cambridge, 1873), Walckenaera clavicornis (Emerton, 1882)
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Linyphiidae
habitat: tall sward & scrub
habitat: upland

Distribution

The species is found on high ground, mainly in the north, where it is widespread. The spider has a circumpolar arctic distribution (Holm 1980) and has been recorded from Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland and Austria.

Habitat and ecology

This arctic-alpine species is found in wet mosses, Sphagnum mires and under stones, usually above 650 m, but there are a few records down to 300 m and even from a raised bog in South Lancashire at 20 m (D. Bell, pers. comm.). Parker (1969) states that adults have been taken from March to October, with a peak period from the end of May to the beginning of June. Our data record adult males from April to August, with a peak in May.

Status

An apparent long-term decline of this species in northern England may in part be due to under-recording but it appears to be widely distributed only in Scotland.

Threats

Although drainage of bogs may have been a cause of decline in the past, its apparent disappearance from areas of northern England could be associated with changing climate. Survey and further research is required to ascertain the cause of the apparent decline in this species.

Management and conservation

Protect bogs from further drainage for agriculture and forestry development. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).

Stats

First recorded: 1896
Last recorded: 2023
Total records: 429
Total visits: 426

Conservation status

Walckenaeria clavicornis

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)	Red data categories - spiders (not based on IUCN criteria)	Spider Amber List	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	Least concern	42979	An arctic-alpine species for which an apparent substantial decline may partly be a result of under-recording. Threats: Although drainage of bogs may have been a cause of decline in the past, its apparent disappearance from areas of northern England could be associated with changing climate. Survey and further research is required to ascertain the cause of the apparent decline in this species.
A Review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22 (Sep 2017)	Rare and scarce species	Nationally Scarce. Includes Red Listed taxa	42979	Threats: Although drainage of bogs may have been a cause of decline in the past, its apparent disappearance from areas of northern England could be associated with changing climate. Survey and further research is required to ascertain the cause of the apparent decline in this species.

Photos and media

Spatial distribution - hectad map

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Thresholds:

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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.