Drassodes cupreus
D. cupreus is the most common of UK spiders in this genus but cannot easily be distinguished from D. lapidotus. The female is 9-18 mm with a mousy grey abdomen and long tubular spinners. If we cannot be certain that an image is D. cupreus but it is likely to be this species, it is highlighted in a red box
It is very similar to D. lapidotus and certain identification requires detailed examination.
Under stones and leaf litter in dry places.
A ground spider - it is a fierce nocturnal hunter, spending the day in its silken retreat. In 1999 Swedish scientists discovered that it has a built in sense of navigation.
Common and widespread in Britain.
Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.
3108 British records to Jan 2013
David Nicholls
Ratby garden1
11 May 2007
David Nicholls
Gypsy Lane Pit
23 August 2018
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
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:
- Gnaphosidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 18
- First record:
- 03/06/1992 (Jon Daws)
- Last record:
- 23/08/2018 (Nicholls, David)
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.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.
Latest images
Latest records
Steve Mathers
Stonesby Quarry NR
12 June 2017
AJ Cann
Washbrook Nature Reserve
26 June 2016
