74
The species is known from France. Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland. Austria,
Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, and the distribution map in Bosnians (1997) indicates the British
records are within the natural range of the species in Europe. Populations may represent a
survival from periods when Britain was joined to mainland Europe by a land bridge. Although
listed as Naturalised in Recorder current evidence suggests this is a native species and should be
assigned a Nationally Scarce status.
Fig. 2 Distribution of Zodarion italicum in Essex
The spider is strongly associated with dry, and the East Thames Corridor
warm, sunny open habitats containing a
proportion of bare ground. The species is
widespread and common in suitable habitat
in the East Thames Corridor (Fig. 2) where
the climate is unique in Britain for its low
rainfall, high summer temperatures and
mild winters. Here the spider has been
trapped in large numbers in the drier parts
of grazing marsh grasslands, unimproved
Thames Terrace grasslands and other open
grassland sites. It is also found in old sand
and chalk pits and other 'brown field' sites
in the region where the substrate provides
warm, dry, sunny and sparsely vegetated
habitats.
The spider has been observed using the common black ant Lasius niger as prey but will take the
meadow ant Lasius flavus in captivity and probably also uses oilier ant species. On hot days the
species appears to become more active in the early evening, possibly in response to a decrease in
ant activity. The species makes an 'igloo-like' silk retreat under stones, rubble or on the ground,
camouflaged with little pieces of soil and debris. These would be very difficult to find in its
grassland haunts. Adults are mainly found during May and June but the species has a long season
with adults of both sexes being taken through the whole summer into September and October.
Fig. 3 Zodarion retreat
The 'Thames Gateway' initiative threatens
wildlife habitats in the whole East Thames
Corridor. There is enormous development
pressure on all open space in the region and
'brown field' sites are especially vulnerable.
Amenity management the 'tidying up' of
habitats and the political urge to plant virtually
every open area with trees all represent threats
to the nationally important biodiversity' of
thermophilic and Xerophytic species such as
Zodarion which arc found in the region.
References
BOSMANS, R., 1997. Revision of the genus Zodarion Walckenaer. 1833, part II. Western and central
Europe, including Italy (Araneae: Zodariidae). Dull. Dr. Arachnol. Soc. 10 (8), 265-294.
HARVEY, P. & MURPHY, X, 1985. Zodarion italicum (Araneae:Zodariidae). a species newly recorded
from Britain. Newsl. Br. Arachnol. Soc. 44: 4.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)