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National Distribution

About this species

Recorded altitude range
0m to 600m

Species text

Distribution
The species is widespread in most of England and Wales, becoming more scattered in Scotland. It is a Holarctic species that is widely distributed in north-western Europe.

Habitat and ecology
The spider probably occurs in almost every house and outhouse in the country. It makes its characteristic web of cribellate silk in cracks in the brickwork, under the eaves, under undisturbed rubble or debris and between cracks in wooden sheds and fences, etc. (Roberts 1995). Channels carrying cords for sash windows are a favoured retreat inside houses (J. Newton, pers. comm.). It is also occasionally found under bark in more natural habitats like woods especially where these are near habitation. It is possible that it replaces A. fenestralis in these situations. Adults occur throughout the year but both sexes peak in the autumn, and females are recorded again in numbers during the spring and early summer.

Status
Common, possibly less so in the north.

Authors of profile: Peter Harvey & Geoff Oxford

Reference
Roberts, M.J. 1995. Spiders of Britain & Northern Europe. London: HarperCollins.
 References

 Account last edited by Geoff Oxford at 15:27 on Thu 14th Jun 2018.

Adult Season

Habitats

background methodology

Recorded management for locations with Amaurobius similis

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Amaurobius similis

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