Summary for Dictyna pusilla (Araneae)

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National Distribution

 
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Dictyna pusilla female Copyright: Lars Bruun
Identification difficulty rating: 4
Name: Dictyna pusilla
Authority: Thorell, 1856
Order: Arachnida: Araneae
Family: Dictynidae
BAP status: UKBAP
National Rarity status: NS
IUCN status: LC

Records: 167
First Record: 1909
Latest Record: 2024

1992-on hectads: 33
Pre-1992 hectads: 25
Total hectads: 52

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About this species

Recorded altitude range
6m to 400m

Species text

Distribution
Most recent records are from Scotland where the species is fairly widespread in the central eastern area. A few widely scattered records from England and Wales. A Palaearctic species, widely distributed in Europe but not recorded from Ireland and more frequent in the north of the region.

Habitat and ecology
D. pusilla is found on low, dry or dead vegetation where it spins an irregular retreat resembling that of Dictyna arundinacea. Frequent on heather, juniper and young pine in open areas of Abernethy Forest. It is mature in spring through to late summer.

Status
UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. Recorded from 13 hectads since 1992, but showing a decline of 48% in hectads with spider records both before and after that date (21 to 11). Generally very uncommon, but apparently increasingly confined to some areas of Scotland, where it may be locally abundant.

Threats
There is insufficient knowledge of the habitat and other ecological requirements of this species to ascertain specific threats.

Management and conservation
The restoration of native pine forest with open glades at Abernethy appears to suit this species.

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 99 records with adult season information)


Habitats

background methodology

Broad Habitat Data (based on 93 records with habitat information)

Broad subhabitat Data (based on 17 records with subhabitat information)

Structural Habitat Data (based on 79 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 80 records with habitat detail and method information)

Recorded management for locations with Dictyna pusilla

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Dictyna pusilla

Images

Dictyna pusilla male
Dictyna pusilla male
Dictyna pusilla (female)
Dictyna pusilla (female)
Dictyna pusilla female
Dictyna pusilla female
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