Summary for Mecopisthes peusi (Araneae)

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National Distribution

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Identification difficulty rating: 3

Name: Mecopisthes peusi

Authority: Wunderlich, 1972

Order: Arachnida: Araneae

Family: Linyphiidae

BAP status: UKBAP

National Rarity status: NS

IUCN status: LC

Records: 255

First Record: 1944

Latest Record: 2022

1992-on hectads: 24

Pre-1992 hectads: 29

Total hectads: 42

Explore Regional Distribution

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About this species

Recorded altitude range
2m to 160m

Species text

Distribution
The species is mainly confined to central southern England, Wales, Cheshire and Lancashire. It has recently been found in pitfall material from Mersehead, Dumfries and Galloway (I. Dawson, pers. comm.). A European species recorded from Ireland, France, Germany and Austria.

Habitat and ecology
In the south, M. peusi occurs on dry heathland, reaching maximum densities between 5 and 10 years after fire. It lives in the thin layer of litter around the base of heather plants at the edge of patches of bare ground. In Wales, Cheshire and Lancashire, the spider is found on sand dunes and dune slacks on the coast. It is adult from October to July, but the main period of activity is from March to May.

Status
UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. All recent records are from the west coast of Wales, Northern England and South-west Scotlend, where it is scarce. The spider has previously been found to be very abundant on heathland in Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey.

Threats
Loss of heathland to agriculture, forestry and development.

Management and conservation
Maintain all seral stages of heather by rotational management. This species appears to disperse fairly readily, so the size of managed area is relatively unimportant.

Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.). References

Adult Season

Adult Season Data (based on 128 records with adult season information)

Habitats

background methodology

Broad Habitat Data (based on 70 records with habitat information)

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

Structural Habitat Data (based on 83 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 97 records with habitat detail and method information)

Structural habitat by month

Recorded management for locations with Mecopisthes peusi

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Mecopisthes peusi

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