Summary for Moebelia penicillata (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 Moebelia penicillata
Moebelia penicillata female Copyright: Richard Gallon
Identification difficulty rating: 3
Name: Moebelia penicillata
Authority: (Westring, 1851)
Order: Arachnida: Araneae
Family: Linyphiidae
National Rarity status: NS
IUCN status: LC
Watching Brief: Amber

Records: 449
First Record: 1900
Latest Record: 2024

1992-on hectads: 102
Pre-1992 hectads: 100
Total hectads: 181

Explore Regional Distribution

Please log on and add a note on this species

Missing records?


 
 
Please report any problems with this record:
VC error
GR error
Taxon ID suspect
Structural habitat suspect
Other problems, please explain here:


 

About this species

Recorded altitude range
4m to 420m

Species text

Distribution
The species is widespread in south-eastern and central England and central Scotland, but apparently scattered or absent elsewhere. It has a Palaearctic distribution and is widespread in north-western and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology
The spider is nearly always found in crevices in the bark of trees, particularly conifers, amongst lichen on tree trunks and sometimes in birds' nests. In early summer it may sometimes be found running over the surface of the bark in numbers. Adults are found in spring and summer mostly in May and June, but occasional individuals have been recorded in the autumn.

Status
This is a widespread but local species. The spider is probably active for short periods and its cryptic tree trunk habitat is likely to be under-recorded.

Threats
Threats include the loss of old trees in sunny situations.

Management and conservation
Old trees in sunny situations should be retained and seral succession prevented from shading existing trunks.

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 177 records with adult season information)


Habitats

background methodology

Broad Habitat Data (based on 160 records with habitat information)

Broad subhabitat Data (based on 10 records with subhabitat information)

Structural Habitat Data (based on 46 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 71 records with habitat detail and method information)

Recorded management for locations with Moebelia penicillata

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Moebelia penicillata

Images

Moebelia penicillata female
Moebelia penicillata female
please log on and upload a new image for this species

See also A-Z Species Index - A-Z Picture Index - previous species | next species