Priocnemis fennica Haupt,1927
Description and notes
Priocnemis fennica belongs in Priocnemis sens. str., where, along with hyalinata (Fabricius), it exhibits the character of a greatly enlarged inner tooth on the tarsal claw. Males exhibit distinct differences in their genitalia in comparison to hyalinata; females of both species are more similar and the characters to separate them more subtle (Day, 1988).
It has only relatively recently been recognised as British (Day, 1979) and older records of ‘hyalinata’, or its synonym femoralis, might refer to either species; fennica actually being more widespread in Britain.
Distribution
England, common in the south but apparently absent from the south-west and local in Wales. Also recorded from Ireland (O’Connor et al., 2009). Not recorded from either Scotland or the Channel Islands
It occurs in northern and central Europe (Wolf, 1972). France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus and Finland (Wahis, 2011).
Status (in Britain only)
This species is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.
Habitat
Occurs in a range of habitats, although usually there is an association with trees. An affinity for watersides has also been suggested (Day, 1988).
Flight period
Late May to early September.
Prey collected
Little definitive data because of the confusion with hyalinata. A record of Pardosa pullata (Clerck) (Lycosidae) from Ireland was considered to be prey of fennica (Day, 1988). There are various published records of species of Lycosidae and Salticidae as prey but these could apply to either P. fennica or P. hyalinata.
Nesting biology
No data available. Priocnemis species in general are fossorial nesters, often adapting preexisting cavities or old aculeate burrows.
Flowers visited
No data available. Priocnemis species in general are often found at flowers of umbellifers such as wild carrot and wild parsnip.
Parasites
No data available.
Year profile last updated
2012