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Spiders

Spiders of the Isle Man:

Provisional list to 1^st January 2002

by J Wright

Introduction

The number of spiders recorded for The Isle of Man stood at just 117 species in 1988 (Dalingwater, 1988). By 1992 the number had been increased to157 (Dalingwater & Wright, 1992) with a further 49 being added by mid-1996 (Wright, 1996). Other workers on the Island have provided specimens for identification which now brings the list to 218 species, a total of 12 species having been added since the latter publication.

Additions since the last published list (Wright, 1996) are as follows;

LYCOSIDAE

Pirata piscatorius (Clerck)

THERIDIIDAE

Episinus angulatus (Blackwall)

LINYPHIIDAE

Ceratinella scabrosa (O.P.-Cambridge)*

Walckenaeria kochi (O.P.-Cambridge)

Dicymbium brevisetosum Locket

Dicymbium tibiale (Blackwall)

Drepanotylus uncatus (O.P.-Cambridge)

Agyneta olivacea (Emerton)

Centromerus sylvaticus (Blackwall)

Tallusia experta (O.P.-Cambridge

Taranucnus setosus (O.P.-Cambridge)

Tapinopa longidens (Wider)*

With the exception of Episinus angulatus and Drepanotylus uncatus, which were found and identified by Chris Felton (Liverpool Museum), the remaining species were collected by John Lamb (formerly with the Manx Wildlife Trust) and identified by either Chris Felton* or the author.

Changes in Nomenclature

Several major changes in the check list of British spider were made in late 2000 (Merrett & Murphy, 2000). These changes are now reflected in the Manx Provisional List of Spiders presented here. By far the biggest changes concern the order in the which the families were and are set out, though there are some changes to the names of Families, Genera and Species too. I have outlined below the changes affecting names and have placed the order of the Families in that used in the above publication. To try and simplify matters I have listed the change of names in the order that they appeared in the last published list (Wright, 1996). For further explanations to these changes I recommend that the above publication is consulted.

In the SALTICIDAE, Euophrys lanigera (Simon) is now known as Pseudoeuophrys lanigera (Simon) and Attulus saltator (Simon) is now known as Sitticus saltator (Simon).

Coelotes atropos (Walckenaer) is removed from the family AGELENIDAE and placed in the AMAUROBIIDAE.

The family ARGYRONETIDAE is now CYBAEIDAE.

In the THERIDIIDAE, Theridion pallens (Blackwall) is now Paidiscura pallens (Blackwall).

The family METIDAE is no longer in use and the species that were in that family have been moved thus: Metellina segmentata (Clerck), Metellina mengei (Blackwall), Metellina merianae (Scopoli) and Meta menardi (Latreille), have been placed in the TETRAGNATHIDAE. Zygiella x-notata (Clerck) and Zygiella atrica (C.L. Koch) have been placed in the ARANEIDAE.

In the LINYPHIIDAE all species that were given the genus Linyphia (Neriene) [species name] are now known simply as Neriene [species name].

References

Dalingwater, J.E. (1988) Manx Spiders. Newsletter of the British Arachnological Society 53, 2.

Dalingwater, J.E. & Wright, J. (1992) Spiders of the Isle of Man: Provisional List to 1990. Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society Proceedings Vol. X, No.1: 141-144.

Merrett, P & Murphy, J.A. (2000) A revised check list of British spiders. Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 11 (9), 345-358.

Wright, J. (1996) Additions to the Spiders of the Isle of Man Provisional List 1991 to June 1995. Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society Proceedings Vol. X, No.3: 294-295.

The Manx Provisional List of Spiders

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