Summary for Parapelecopsis nemoralis (Araneae)

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National Distribution

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Identification difficulty rating: 4

Name: Parapelecopsis nemoralis

Authority: (Blackwall, 1841)

Order: Arachnida: Araneae

Family: Linyphiidae

IUCN status: LC

Records: 488

First Record: 1837

Latest Record: 2022

1992-on hectads: 177

Pre-1992 hectads: 95

Total hectads: 251

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About this species

Recorded altitude range
0m to 914m

Species text

Distribution
The species is widespread in the west and north of Britain, but very scattered or absent elsewhere. Roberts (1985) included P. nemoralioides (as P. mediocris and P. locketi) in P. nemoralis though it has been treated as distinct from P. nemoralis in Merrett et al. (1985), Merrett & Millidge (1992) and Merrett & Murphy (2000). This presents problems in the mapping of records submitted to the recording scheme. A decision has been made to map coastal records of P. nemoralis as P. nemoralioides, but the map is bound to present problems in interpretation, especially in the north where it is unknown whether the same ecological distinction is valid. The species is widespread in north-western and central Europe, but is not listed in the recent checklists for Belgium and Denmark.

Habitat and ecology
Found in woodland in leaf litter, pine needles and moss at ground level, and in lichen and moss on tree trunks (Locket et al. 1974). It has been recorded at over 900 m in the Scottish mountains. Adults have been recorded at most times of the year, and although very limited phenology data are available the situation may be similar to P. nemoralioides where both sexes are adult between September and May, and females may occur in all months of the year.

Status
Local and uncommon, particularly in England south of Yorkshire.

Original author of profile: J.A. Stewart

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