Summary details for Xysticus audax (Schrank, 1803)

Species Details

Species name: Xysticus audax (Schrank, 1803)
Synonym: Xysticus pini
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Thomisidae

Distribution

The species has a widespread but rather scattered Distribution: in much of southern Britain, with a few scattered records north to Inverness-shire. It is a Palaearctic species widespread in western and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology

X. audax is found on gorse and heather in heathland and sometimes grassland, usually at higher levels in the vegetation than X. cristatus. Adults of both sexes are found mainly in late spring and early summer, females persisting later.

Status

The spider is frequent in suitable habitat in southern England, but very local elsewhere. It has been considered by some authors to be a form of X. cristatus, but there is now agreement that it is a separate species. However careful consideration of colour, carapace markings and genitalia is needed to distinguish the two species. 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.

Stats

First recorded: 1886
Last recorded: 2024
Total records: 588
Total visits: 579

Conservation status

Xysticus audax

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 listing based on 2001 IUCN guidelines	Least concern	42979

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

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