Dictyna uncinata

Description

A very small (3 mm) spider. This is a sexually dimorphic species - the female has a dark and light brown patterned hairy body, the male is more uniformly dark grey or blackish. No darkening of apical ends of tarsi. 

Similar Species

Other Dictyna species. 

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)

Confirmation requires microscopic examination of the genitalia of adult specimens. 

Recording advice

Confirmation requires microscopic examination of the genitalia of adult specimens. 

Habitat

Scrub, hedgerows and woodland.

When to see it

Best from May to July.

Life History

It makes its mesh web across the surface of the leaves of bushes and trees.

UK Status

The species is widespread and fairly common in England, but with few records from the south-west, Wales or Scotland.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Spiders
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Araneae
Family:
Dictynidae
Records on NatureSpot:
39
First record:
17/08/1997 (Jon Daws)
Last record:
09/06/2023 (Cann, Alan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

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Latest images

Latest records