Summary for Lathys heterophthalma (Araneae)

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National Distribution

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Identification difficulty rating: 4

Name: Lathys heterophthalma

Authority: Kulczy?ski, 1891

Order: Arachnida: Araneae

Family: Dictynidae

National Rarity status: NR

IUCN status: VU, criteria: D2

Records: 34

First Record: 1980

Latest Record: 2022

1992-on hectads: 4

Pre-1992 hectads: 5

Total hectads: 6

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About this species

Recorded altitude range

Species text

Distribution
The species has been recorded only from Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire. The distribution in Europe is poorly known, but it has been recorded from Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Habitat and ecology
The spider occurs in moist places at ground level on heathland, under stones or among damp, dead Molinia caerulea litter between the tussocks. It has been found at between 700 and 1500 m in Austria and Switzerland. Males are adult in April, females continuing until end of May.

Status
Lathys nielseni was recognised in Britain as a species separate from L. humilis (Blackwall) only in 1984, but there have been few records since that time, and it seems likely that it is confined to heathland in a small area of south-east England. Recorded from a total of four locations prior to 1992 but not recorded since that date.

Threats
The loss of heathland to agriculture, afforestation and development.

Management and conservation
Maintain all seral stages of heathland by rotational management.

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

Adult Season

Adult Season Data (based on 26 records with adult season information)

Habitats

background methodology

no broad habitat data available

no subhabitat data available

Structural Habitat Data (based on 13 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 13 records with habitat detail and method information)

Structural habitat by month

Recorded management for locations with Lathys heterophthalma

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Lathys heterophthalma

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