Woodlouse Spider - Dysdera crocata

Description

Females 11 to 15 mm, Males 9 to 10 mm. It has a dark red thorax and orange-brown abdomen. There is one other very similar species - D. erythrina - and the two can only be separated by detailed examination. If we cannot be certain that an image is D. crocata , but it is likely to be this species, it is highlighted in a red box.

Similar Species

Dysdera crocata: femur IV with 1-3 dorsal spines, c.f. D. erythrina: femur IV without dorsal spines. 

Identification difficulty
Habitat

They are usually to be found under stones and logs in warm places, often close to woodlice. They have been found in houses.

When to see it

Hunts at night without the use of a web.

Life History

Their diet is comprised exclusively of woodlice. This species has especially powerful jaws that can pierce into woodlice.

UK Status

Fairly frequent and widespread in much of Britain.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Further Information

2259 British records to Jan 2013

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

Common names
Woodlouse Spider
Species group:
Spiders
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Araneae
Family:
Dysderidae
Records on NatureSpot:
4
First record:
26/03/2010 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
26/10/2024 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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