Summary for Meta menardi (Araneae)

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National Distribution

 
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Meta menardi Copyright: Peter Harvey
Identification difficulty rating: 3
Name: Meta menardi
Authority: (Latreille, 1804)
Order: Arachnida: Araneae
Family: Tetragnathidae
IUCN status: LC

Records: 660
First Record: 1800
Latest Record: 2023

1992-on hectads: 213
Pre-1992 hectads: 101
Total hectads: 279

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About this species

Recorded altitude range
1m to 550m

Species text

Distribution
M. menardi is widely but patchily distributed in Britain and apparently absent from large areas. This spider is exclusively European (Platnick 1998) and is widespread in western and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology
This species lives exclusively in permanently dark, damp habitats such as caves (including sea caves), mines, sewers, ice-houses, damp cellars, limestone pavement, hollow trees and railway tunnels. Very occasionally it may be discovered beneath convex artefacts in fields (Felton 1995). Dry habitats are not occupied by this species. M. menardi produces a large orb web, but usually resides on the wall of its habitat. Prey items include hibernating Lepidoptera, mosquitoes, slugs, isopods, millipedes and beetles (Smithers 1996; Cropper 1997). Both sexes are mature throughout the year (Howes 1999). Large, white, tear-shaped egg-sacs are suspended from the roof of the spider's habitat between September and February, these persist for a long period even after spiderling emergence. Hatched spiderlings have been noted within egg-sacs in January.

Status
Local. It is probably under-recorded throughout its range due to its specific habitat preferences.

Original author of profile: R.C. Gallon

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

Adult Season Data (based on 209 records with adult season information)


Habitats

background methodology

Broad Habitat Data (based on 241 records with habitat information)

Broad subhabitat Data (based on 1 records with subhabitat information)

Structural Habitat Data (based on 19 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 83 records with habitat detail and method information)

Recorded management for locations with Meta menardi

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Meta menardi

Images

Meta menardi eggsack
Meta menardi eggsack
Empty egg sac of meta menardi
Empty egg sac of meta menardi
Cave spider egg sacs in seacave
Cave spider egg sacs in seacave
Meta menardi eggsac
Meta menardi eggsac
4 inch Duct
4 inch Duct
cave spider 6
cave spider 6
Cave Spider 5
Cave Spider 5
Egg sac in well
Egg sac in well
Cave Spider on Manhole cover
Cave Spider on Manhole cover
Cave Spider (5mm squares)
Cave Spider (5mm squares)
Meta menardi adult  female in orb web
Meta menardi adult female in orb web
Female with egg sac.
Female with egg sac.
Meta menardi egg sac in sea cave
Meta menardi egg sac in sea cave
Cave spider (Meta menardi) with egg sac
Cave spider (Meta menardi) with egg sac
m. menardi markings
m. menardi markings
m. menardi large specimen
m. menardi large specimen
m. menardi egg sac
m. menardi egg sac
m. menardi occupation of man hole
m. menardi occupation of man hole
Meta-menardi-with-egg-sac
Meta-menardi-with-egg-sac
Meta menardi
Meta menardi
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