Summary for Oedothorax retusus (Araneae)

previous species | next species

National Distribution

Logged-on? click on dot to query records. Please note our
Terms of Use. Double-click on map to go to region

View time series maps for Oedothorax retusus

Identification difficulty rating: 3

Name: Oedothorax retusus

Authority: (Westring, 1851)

Order: Arachnida: Araneae

Family: Linyphiidae

IUCN status: LC

Records: 7151

First Record: 1878

Latest Record: 2023

1992-on hectads: 951

Pre-1992 hectads: 640

Total hectads: 1282

Explore Regional Distribution

Identification guidance for Oedothorax retusus

View notes or log on and add a note on this species

Missing records?

About this species

Recorded altitude range
0m to 955m

Species text

Distribution
The species is widespread in much of Britain.

Habitat and ecology
O. retusus is an active ballooner which can be found in most habitats but is perhaps most associated with grassland and is one of the most abundant species in agricultural fields. Like all other species in the genus, this species does not build a web but hunts over the soil surface. Males may be less conspicuous than females, found under leaves and generally less active than females as recorded in pitfall trap catches. Adults can be found in all months of the year with a peak ofactivity in the autumn (Edwards et al. 1975) sometimes earlier in July-August (Topping & Sunderland 1992). Our data for nearly 2200 adults show both sexes recorded mostly fromearly to mid-summer and to a lesser extent in late summer and early autumn.

Status
Common.

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