Linyphia hortensis

Description

Size about 4 mm. The male has a dark brown rather cylindrical abdomen that usually has two pale patches at the top. The female is broader bodied and more strongly marked.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

The spider is found on low vegetation, especially dog's-mercury, mostly but not exclusively in woodland. It is also found in hedgerows and can be swept off low plants in these habitats.

When to see it

Adults of both sexes are found from late spring to mid-summer, females occasionally being recorded until late November.

Life History

Makes a small sheet web amongst the low vegetation.

UK Status

Fairly frequent. The species is widespread in England and Wales, becoming very scattered and patchy in Scotland.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Further Information

3455 British records to Jan 2013

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Spiders
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Araneae
Family:
Linyphiidae
Records on NatureSpot:
30
First record:
27/05/1995 (Frankum, Maggie)
Last record:
13/05/2023 (Cann, Alan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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