Summary for Drassodes cupreus (Araneae)
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National Distribution
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Identification difficulty rating: 3
Name: Drassodes cupreus
Authority: (Blackwall, 1834)
Order: Arachnida: Araneae
Family: Gnaphosidae
IUCN status: LC
Records: 3923
First Record: 1858
Latest Record: 2024
1992-on hectads: 619
Pre-1992 hectads: 393
Total hectads: 838
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About this species
Recorded altitude range0m to 700m
Species text
Status: Fairly common. For years, in Britain, D. cupreus was regarded as a subspecies of D. lapidosus. This was possibly due to the fact that both have very similar genitalia and, to a large extent in England, Wales and Scotland, their ranges overlap. In the field, the typically copper coloured coat of D. cupreus is often a guide to its identity. Distribution: The species is widespread throughout much of Britain. It is widespread in north-western and central Europe. Habitat and ecology: D. cupreus is frequently found under scattered stones, discarded rubbish and grassy tussocks, particularly on heaths and old grasslands, and may be beaten out of gorse and heather. Certainly in the south of England D. cupreus is not uncommon on heaths where D. lapidosus appears to be absent. Curiously, both species may be equally common on calcareous grassland. It is not unusual to find a mature male together with a penultimate instar female in the same silken cell, which can surprise and even cause a collector to miss both. Adults of both sexes are found mainly early to mid-summer, females through the summer, sometimes persisting later. Author of profile: J.A. MurphyText 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 1370 records with adult season information)
Habitats
background methodologyBroad Habitat Data (based on 1670 records with habitat information)
Broad subhabitat Data (based on 85 records with subhabitat information)
Structural Habitat Data (based on 1060 records with structural habitat information)
Habitat Detail and Method (based on 1184 records with habitat detail and method information)
Recorded management for locations with Drassodes cupreus
Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Drassodes cupreus
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