Taxon Report

The British Arachnological Society Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 260346, and in Scotland No. SC044090

Taxon Report

for

Ostearius melanopygius

photograph copyright Gemma Felix

Website: http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk. Email: [email protected]

Copyright British Arachnological Society/Spider Recording Scheme. Page 1/8 created on 02 Oct 2021 Name: Ostearius melanopygius

Authority: (O.P.-Cambridge, 1879) Order: Arachnida: Araneae Family: Linyphiidae

Records: 1056 First Record: 1900 Latest Record: 2020

1992-on hectads: 280 Pre-1992 hectads: 161 Total hectads: 390

Identification difficulty: 3 Adult voucher specimen needs checking under magnification and good lighting. The Recording Scheme would accept records from experienced recorders without further question unless the date, region or habitat was especially unusual. Voucher specimen should be retained. Records accepted from known experienced recorders.

Recorded altitude range 0m to 1060m

Distribution (O. P.-Cambridge, 1879) Status: The spider's association with rubbish-tips and refuse, and the knowledge that it occurred in Madeira and the Azores, led Bristowe (1939) to suggest that it had been imported from the Atlantic islands. Importation from New Zealand has also been suggested (Locket & Millidge 1953), but it is more likely to have been exported from Britain to New Zealand (P. Merrett, pers. comm.). Adults are found from spring through to autumn. Distribution: The species is widespread in much of England, but very scattered elsewhere. It is cosmopolitan and widespread in Europe as far north as Sweden in Scandinavia. Habitat and ecology: O. melanopygius occurs in a very wide range of habitats, particularly rubbish heaps and gardens, and occasionally occurring indoors. It is a frequent aeronaut. Adults of both sexes are found throughout the year, with most recorded in summer and autumn or early winter. 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: Bio

Habitat and ecology bridge, 1879) Status: The spider's association with rubbish-tips and refuse, and the knowledge that it occurred in Madeira and the Azores, led Bristowe (1939) to suggest that it had been imported from the Atlantic islands. Importation from New Zealand has also been suggested (Locket & Millidge 1953), but it is more likely to have been exported from Britain to New Zealand (P. Merrett, pers. comm.). Adults are found from spring through to autumn. Distribution: The species is widespread in much of England, but very scattered elsewhere. It is cosmopolitan and widespread in Europe as far north as Sweden in Scandinavia. Habitat and ecology: O. melanopygius occurs in a very wide range of habitats, particularly rubbish heaps and gardens, and occasionally occurring indoors. It is a frequent aeronaut. Adults of both sexes are found throughout the year, with most recorded in summer and autumn or early winter. 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. Hunti

Status us (O. P.-Cambridge, 1879) Status: The spider's association with rubbish-tips and refuse, and the knowledge that it occurred in Madeira and the Azores, led Bristowe (1939) to suggest that it had been imported from the Atlantic islands. Importation from New Zealand has also been suggested (Locket & Millidge 1953), but it is more likely to have been exported from Britain to New Zealand (P. Merrett, pers. comm.). Adults are found from spring through to autumn. Distribution: The species is widespread in much of England, but very scattered elsewhere. It is cosmopolitan and widespread in Europe as far north as Sweden in Scandinavia. Habitat and ecology: O. melanopygius occurs in a very wide range

Copyright British Arachnological Society/Spider Recording Scheme. Page 3/8 created on 02 Oct 2021 of habitats, particularly rubbish heaps and gardens, and occasionally occurring indoors. It is a frequent aeronaut. Adults of both sexes are found throughout the year, with most recorded in summer and autumn or early winter. 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: Biolog

Adult season

Adult Season Data (based on 413 records with adult season information)

Recorded broad habitats, based on 381 habitat records

Recorded subhabitats, based on 14 subhabitat records

Recorded structural habitats, based on 226 structural habitat records

Copyright British Arachnological Society/Spider Recording Scheme. Page 5/8 created on 02 Oct 2021 Habitat Detail and Method, based on 259 habitat detail and method records

Recorded management in place

Management Data based on 56 management data records

Grazing Management Data based on 42 grazing records

Copyright British Arachnological Society/Spider Recording Scheme. Page 6/8 created on 02 Oct 2021 Management frequency Data based on 19 management frequency records

Substrate and Hydrology

Substrate Data based on 68 substrate records

Copyright British Arachnological Society/Spider Recording Scheme. Page 7/8 created on 02 Oct 2021 Hydrology Data based on 74 hydrology records