Pardosa nigriceps

Female 5 to 7 mm. Abdomen brown with a clear light brown cardiac mark, a double row of white spots behind and light brown sides. Carapace dark brown with a light brown median band and light brown bands along the sides. Legs and palps brown with dark spots on the femora. Legs with long spines. Male 4 to 6 mm. Markings almost identical to the female, the pattern on the abdomen is a little less obvious. Palps with dark tarsi.

Confirmation of this species: "Requires examination at high magnification in good lighting, typically examination of the genitalia." Bee, L., Oxford, G., & Smith, H. (2020). Britain's Spiders: A Field Guide. Second Edition. Princeton University Press.

P. nigriceps is found on the ground, on low vegetation and bushes in a variety of habitats such as grasslands, woodland clearings, old quarries and roadside verges. It tends to live higher in the vegetation than other Pardosa species. 

The spider is adult in spring and early summer, females persisting later.

Widespread and fairly frequent throughout most of Britain.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.