Summary details for Xysticus acerbus Thorell, 1872

Species Details

Species name: Xysticus acerbus Thorell, 1872
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Thomisidae
habitat: tall sward & scrub

Distribution

There are scattered records in the south. The species is widespread in western and central Europe, but is absent from Scandinavia and has not been recorded from Ireland.

Habitat and ecology

The spider occurs in a fairly wide range of grassland habitats, chalk or limestone grassland in Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset, short meadow grassland in Sussex and Glamorgan and sand dunes at Braunton Burrows (Devon). It has also been found on heathland and coastal under-cliff in Dorset. In 2005 numerous juveniles were found at a washlands in South Essex, with one adult being reared through. Both sexes are adult in April and May.

Status

The spider appears to be very local and at most sites only a few specimens have been found, but there now seems to be an increase in distribution and frequency happening, at least in some areas.

Threats

Threats are difficult to assess because of its varied habitats, but the loss of unimproved grassland in general is likely to be detrimental.

Management and conservation

Maintain unimproved calcareous and other grassland by grazing. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).

Stats

First recorded: 1880
Last recorded: 2026
Total records: 181
Total visits: 179

Conservation status

Xysticus acerbus

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	Least concern	42979	Significance of the decline in this rare species of southern, dry grassland habitats is uncertain; further targeted survey is needed. Threats: Threats are difficult to assess because of its varied habitats, but the loss of unimproved grassland in general is likely to be detrimental.

Photos and media

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.