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National Distribution

About this species

Recorded altitude range

Species text

Distribution
The species is widespread in much of Britain, becoming more scattered further north. A new species, M. mossica was split from M. saxatilis by Schikora (1993). Prior to that the two species had been confused under the name M. saxatilis. Consequently, a number of the western and northern upland records of M. saxatilis mapped here may in fact relate to M. mossica. M. saxatilis is widespread in north-western and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology
Schikora (1993) notes that M. saxatilis is likely to have a much broader habitat niche than M. mossica, which includes coastal and inland grasslands, crop fields, broad-leaved and pine woodland. The two species only overlap in bogs and peaty areas. Within these habitats, M. saxatilis is normally to be found in a small sheet web in the litter zone or at the base of vegetation. Adults have a peak in activity in July (Bell 1999), but have been found between March and October with both sexes recorded mainly from early to mid-summer.

Status
Common.

Original author of profile: J.R. Bell

Text derived from 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 saxatilis sens. str.

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Meioneta saxatilis sens. str.

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