Summary for Phycosoma inornatum (Araneae)

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National Distribution

 
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Phycosoma inornatum female Copyright: Tylan Berry
Identification difficulty rating: 4
Name: Phycosoma inornatum
Authority: (O.P.-Cambridge, 1861)
Order: Arachnida: Araneae
Family: Theridiidae
BAP status: UKBAP
National Rarity status: NS
IUCN status: LC

Records: 192
First Record: 1901
Latest Record: 2024

1992-on hectads: 50
Pre-1992 hectads: 34
Total hectads: 70

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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

Adult Season Data (based on 106 records with adult season information)


Habitats

background methodology

Broad Habitat Data (based on 49 records with habitat information)

Broad subhabitat Data (based on 4 records with subhabitat information)

Structural Habitat Data (based on 48 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 62 records with habitat detail and method information)

Recorded management for locations with Phycosoma inornatum

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Phycosoma inornatum

Images

Phycosoma inornatum f
Phycosoma inornatum f
Phycosoma inornatum female dorsal
Phycosoma inornatum female dorsal
Phycosoma inornatum female 2
Phycosoma inornatum female 2
Phycosoma inornatum female
Phycosoma inornatum female
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