Interesting spider distribution patterns

The small money spider Tenuiphantes tenuis is one of the most widely distributed and ubiquitous spiders in much of Britain. Its distribution in Essex is a reasonably good indication of coverage in the county.






Nigma puella is a small cribellate spider which makes its web on the surface of leaves. It has an unusual distribution in Essex; it was confined to an area in the east of the county where it is quite frequent, but has now increased in distribution and frequency in much of southern Britain.






Nigma walckenaeri is a small cribellate spider which makes its web on the top surface of leaves. It was confined to the home counties mainly in the Thames valley region and was frequent in gardens and parks in south Essex but is now much increased in distribution and frequency in much of southern Britain.






Dysdera crocata specialises in woodlouse prey. It is probably very common in gardens, outhouses and under rubble but is under-recorded.






Zodarion italicum is an ant-eating spider first discovered in Britain in Thurrock in 1985. It has subsequently proved to be widespread in the East Thames Corridor. The spider makes an 'igloo-like' retreat on the underneath of stones or on the surface of the ground, camouflaged with tiny stones, debris and earth.







Gibbaranea gibbosa is an orb-web spider which is found in woodland and scrub habitats. It is widespread but local in Essex






Araneus triguttatus is an orb-web spider which is found in woodland and scrub habitats. It is widespread but local in Essex






Zilla diodia is orb-web spider which was fairly frequent and widespread in the southern half of Essex, but absent from the northwest, fitting well with its national distribution, but has now much increased in distribution and frequency in much of southern Britain.







Argiope bruennichi was first recorded in both North and South Essex in 1997 and has subsequently been found in many other localities in Essex and the East Thames Corridor. The species has been spreading in Britain, probably as a result of climate change and longer warmer autumns. Underlying maps produced by MapMate® using Digital Map Data © HarperCollins-Bartholomew 2007 Data overlay © Essex Field Club 2007.

Essex Spider Group