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National Distribution

About this species

Recorded altitude range
0m to 609m

Species text

Distribution
A southern species with several records from the Welsh coast and one old record from south-western Scotland. It is widespread in northern and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology
Lowland heathland and coastal grassland. D. inornata has been found on heathlands, beneath overhanging heather on sandy banks, in the heather canopy, on gorse scrub and pines and under stones. It has also been found in coastal grassland and dunes. Like Achaearanea riparia, it occupies a similar specialised habitat. Adults of both sexes have been found from March to June, females to August.

Status
UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. The species appears to have undergone a major reduction in population size. The number of hectads with records has fallen from 27 before 1992 to 11 after that date, equivalent to a decline of 59% in area of occupancy. There is a possibility that under-recording or fluctuations in recording effort may have contributed to this large decline.

Threats
This species may be abundant in rides with sandy banks in afforested areas of heath. The loss of this habitat when the forests are cleared could be a threat.

Management and conservation
Maintain rides with overhanging heather.

Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).  References

Adult Season

Habitats

background methodology

Recorded management for locations with Phycosoma inornatum

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Phycosoma inornatum

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