Summary for Zilla diodia (Araneae)

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National Distribution

 
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Zilla diodia Copyright: Andy Keay
Identification difficulty rating: 3
Name: Zilla diodia
Authority: (Walckenaer, 1802)
Order: Arachnida: Araneae
Family: Araneidae
IUCN status: LC

Records: 1984
First Record: 1853
Latest Record: 2023

1992-on hectads: 282
Pre-1992 hectads: 79
Total hectads: 295

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About this species

Recorded altitude range
0m to 700m

Species text

Distribution
The species is confined to the southern half of England. It is widespread in western and central Europe as far north as Sweden. It has not been recorded from Ireland.

Habitat and ecology
The spider is found on tall heather, brambles, bushes and the lower branches of trees, usually in sheltered shady places and among scrub on cliffs by the coast. It occurs at the edge of clearings or rides in broad-leaved or mixed woodland, in old hedgerows, green lanes, scrub and sometimes gardens. Forestry plantations often provide suitable habitat, at least in their early stages when heather is still present. Immatures can be beaten out of scrub and hedgerows in late autumn but have also been found in litter at that time of year. Adults of both sexes are mainly found in May and June, with occasional females in July and exceptionally September.

Status
The spider is often abundant where found, and is especially frequent in parts of south-east England (Harvey 2000).

Threats
Lack of management resulting in the closure of open woodland and the loss of heathland and old hedgerows is probably detrimental. Where arable fields are adjacent to woodland or hedgerows, spray drift from the use of pesticides on crops is likely to affect the survival of this spider.

Original author of profile: P.R. Harvey using information in the species account by Merrett (1990).

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 917 records with adult season information)


Habitats

background methodology

Broad Habitat Data (based on 453 records with habitat information)

Broad subhabitat Data (based on 75 records with subhabitat information)

Structural Habitat Data (based on 475 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 546 records with habitat detail and method information)

Recorded management for locations with Zilla diodia

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Zilla diodia

Images

Zilla diodia on Forsythia
Zilla diodia on Forsythia
Zilla diodia at Mell farm
Zilla diodia at Mell farm
Female Zilla diodia
Female Zilla diodia
Zilla diodia female in distinctive web. Woodland edge.
Zilla diodia female in distinctive web. Woodland edge.
Zilla diodia
Zilla diodia
Zilla diodia in web
Zilla diodia in web
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