Species Details
- Species name
- Walckenaeria corniculans (O.P.-Cambridge, 1875)
- Common name
- Small-horned Walckenaer
- Synonyms
- Walckenaera corniculans (O. P.-Cambridge, 1875), Prosopotheca corniculans (O.P.-Cambridge, 1875), Walckenaera corniculans (O.P.-Cambridge, 1875)
- Taxonomy
- Animalia :: Araneae :: Linyphiidae
- shaded woodland floor
Distribution
The species has been recorded from scattered localities in southern England. It is uncommon in western Europe as far north as Denmark.Habitat and ecology
The spider occurs in old dry heathland in Dorset, Hampshire and West Sussex (in some cases near pine trees), and in woodland litter (mainly beech) at other sites. Adults are found between April and September.Status
UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. The spider has never been found in abundance at any site and it has been recorded from only one location since 1992. Area of occupancy has apparently declined by 88% from eight hectads before 1992 to just one hectad since that date.Threats
The loss of heathland to afforestation, agriculture and development, and by fire.Management and conservation
On heathland, the maintenance of some old heather is essential. Where fire is used as a management technique, it should be used on a small scale, as extensive fires might be detrimental and may account for this species' absence from many heathland areas. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).Stats
- First recorded
- 1800
- Last recorded
- 2025
- Total records
- 31
- Total visits
- 30
Conservation status
Walckenaeria corniculans
| 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) | Rare and scarce species | Nationally Rare. Includes Red Listed taxa | 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 | Critically Endangered | 42979 | Since 1993, this species has been recorded from just one location in Surrey and has undergone a major decrease in AOO. Threats: The loss of heathland to afforestation, agriculture and development, and by fire. |
| Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 - Species of Principal Importance in England (section 41) | Biodiversity Lists - England | England NERC S.41 | 39753 | |
| UK list of Priority Habitats and Species | Biodiversity Action Plan UK list of priority species | Priority Species | 39322 | not on former UK BAP list |
Photos and media
No photos or media files available
Spatial distribution - hectad map
Click on one of the date ranges in the key to highlight that particular range. Click anywhere else on the map to go back to all three date ranges.
Thresholds:
Move mouse cursor over dot for info
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
__