Summary for Xysticus audax (Araneae)

previous species | next species

National Distribution

 
Logged-on? click on dot to query records. Please note our
Terms of Use. Double-click on map to go to region

View time series maps for Xysticus audax
Xysticus audax guarding its eggs Copyright: Lars Bruun
Identification difficulty rating: 3
Name: Xysticus audax
Authority: (Schrank, 1803)
Order: Arachnida: Araneae
Family: Thomisidae
IUCN status: LC

Records: 562
First Record: 1886
Latest Record: 2022

1992-on hectads: 154
Pre-1992 hectads: 88
Total hectads: 208

Explore Regional Distribution

Resource files for Xysticus audax

Identification guidance for Xysticus audax

Please log on and add a note on this species

Missing records?


 
 
Please report any problems with this record:
VC error
GR error
Taxon ID suspect
Structural habitat suspect
Other problems, please explain here:


 

About this species

Recorded altitude range
2m to 579m

Species text

Distribution
The species has a widespread but rather scattered Distribution: in much of southern Britain, with a few scattered records north to Inverness-shire. It is a Palaearctic species widespread in western and central Europe.

Habitat and ecology
X. audax is found on gorse and heather in heathland and sometimes grassland, usually at higher levels in the vegetation than X. cristatus. Adults of both sexes are found mainly in late spring and early summer, females persisting later.

Status
The spider is frequent in suitable habitat in southern England, but very local elsewhere. It has been considered by some authors to be a form of X. cristatus, but there is now agreement that it is a separate species. However careful consideration of colour, carapace markings and genitalia is needed to distinguish the two species.

Original author of profile: D.R. Nellist.

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 210 records with adult season information)


Habitats

background methodology

Broad Habitat Data (based on 196 records with habitat information)

Broad subhabitat Data (based on 32 records with subhabitat information)

Structural Habitat Data (based on 100 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 115 records with habitat detail and method information)

Recorded management for locations with Xysticus audax

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Xysticus audax

Images

Xysticus audax female
Xysticus audax female
Xysticus audax guarding its eggs
Xysticus audax guarding its eggs
please log on and upload a new image for this species

See also A-Z Species Index - A-Z Picture Index - previous species | next species