Insufficiency in Distributional Faunistic Data in Synanthropic Spiders: a Case Study of the Occurrence of Brigittea Civica (Araneae, Dictynidae) in South Moravia, Czech Republic

Abstract

This study is focused on distribution of the spider Brigittea civica (Lucas, 1850). It is probably a non‑native species in the Czech Republic, which occurs synanthropically in central European conditions. It is well adapted to coexistence with humans, and since there is no natural enemy, it may freely redistribute. The aim of this study was to supplement the knowledge of distribution of this species in South Moravia. The present occurrence data were recorded from a total of 92 towns and villages via observing typical cobwebs. In 86 cases, the incidence was observed, in only six cases, there was not found even a single cobweb of the spider. Based on our records, we can suggest that B. civica is much more common than was previously mapped and the presence of this species in the Czech Republic was underestimated.

Keywords

• <i>Brigittea civica</i>
• Araneae
• thermophilic species
• species expansion