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National Distribution

About this species

Recorded altitude range

Species text

Distribution
The species has a widespread but patchy Distribution: , and appears to be absent from many areas of the country. It is widespread in most of north-western and central Europe, but has not been recorded from the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary or Poland.

Habitat and ecology
This is principally a grassland spider which occurs in a sheet web in the lower strata of the vegetation. It occurs on heathland in the New Forest, but it is not generally found in this habitat (P. Merrett, pers. comm.). In central Europe, M. beata appears to have a much broader niche, occurring in a wide variety of habitats including raised bogs, fens and wet meadows (Hänggi et al. 1995). It seems to be commonest in open habitats, only rarely being found in closed canopy woodlands. Crocker & Daws (1996) note adults from May to September. Our data record adults of both sexes for most of the year, between February and December, mainly from late spring to mid-summer.

Status
Local.

Original author of profile: J.R. Bell

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.  References

Adult Season

Habitats

background methodology

Recorded management for locations with Meioneta beata

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Meioneta beata

Images

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