Summary for Drassodes lapidosus (Araneae)

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National Distribution

 
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Image from above Copyright: Andrew Blackburn
Identification difficulty rating: 3
Name: Drassodes lapidosus
Authority: (Walckenaer, 1802)
Order: Arachnida: Araneae
Family: Gnaphosidae
IUCN status: LC

Records: 2344
First Record: 1872
Latest Record: 2023

1992-on hectads: 280
Pre-1992 hectads: 312
Total hectads: 500

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About this species

Recorded altitude range
0m to 518m

Species text

Distribution
The species is widespread in the southern half of Britain, but its distribution becomes patchy and very scattered in the north. It is widespread in western and central Europe as far north as southern Norway, but not included in the checklists for the Netherlands and Sweden.

Habitat and ecology
As the name suggests, D. lapidosus is found in stony areas such as scree and the drier parts towards the rear of shingle beaches. It is also synanthropic, associated with man-influenced habitats such as gardens and waste ground where piles of old masonry, discarded clothes, etc. have been dumped. Specimens are usually found in silken cells under stones. The peak period for mature specimens appears to be from summer to autumn, but mature specimens have also been collected all round the year. As with D. cupreus, it is not unusual to find a mature male together with a penultimate instar female in the same silken cell. Males occur between May and July, peaking in June, Females may persist until the autumn.

Status
Local, less common than D. cupreus in parts of the south of England, and scarcer in the north. D. lapidosus has often been confused with D. cupreus. In appearance D. lapidosus often has a silky grey coat and mouse-like appearance, whilst D. cupreus often has a distinctly copper coloured coat (as indicated by its name). Both species occur on the Continent where a number of very closely related species are also found. For a long time, it seems that taxonomists used D. lapidosus as a 'blanket species' and it is probable that a number of different Drassodes species lie buried among the numerous Continental records of D. lapidosus.

Original author of profile: J.A. Murphy

Text 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 794 records with adult season information)


Habitats

background methodology

Broad Habitat Data (based on 827 records with habitat information)

Broad subhabitat Data (based on 8 records with subhabitat information)

Structural Habitat Data (based on 615 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 620 records with habitat detail and method information)

Recorded management for locations with Drassodes lapidosus

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Drassodes lapidosus

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