Species Account for Harpactea rubicunda
Harpactea rubicunda (C.L.Koch, 1838)
Araneae: Dysderidae
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Essex RDB: Listed
Threat: Essex Endangered
Additional Phenology Data
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Taxonomic group: spiders (Araneae) - County data
Essex Red Data List comment
Only known in Britain from Tilbury.
Species text
Harpactea rubicunda was first discovered in Britain by Clive Hambler in 'the Tilbury area' in 1988 (Hambler & Linfield, 1991), possibly at the Warren Gorge location in Grays at which it was still present in 2005. The spider is also known from central and eastern Europe, and although Hambler & Linfield (op. cit.) suggest it will be found to be much more widespread in south-eastern England, comprehensive survey in south Essex, including the use of pitfall traps in many suitable locations, has failed to record the species despite the wide range of sites in the region identified for Zodarion italicum, a species with somewhat similar habitat requirements. In Warren Gorge it will be important to ensure that the cliff location is not allowed to become shaded by scrub development, something that it already taking place. References
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