Dicranopalpus ramosus agg.

Dicranopalpus ramosus agg.

Description

A species of harvestman. Males are up to 4 mm long, females can reach up to 6 mm. Both sexes have very long legs (especially the second pair, which can reach up to 5 cm), another thing that makes this species easily recognisable is the fact that its pedipalps appear to be forked.

Designation

Indicator Species - Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Similar Species

Dicranopalpus caudatus has recently been split from D. ramosus. See the news story explaining the species split.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Unless microscopic examination of the features detailed in Wijnhoven and Prieto, 2015 have been carried out specimens should be recorded as Dicranopalpus ramosus agg.

Habitat

Mostly on outer walls and fences.

When to see it

August to November.

Life History

The species has spread across Europe from Morocco. As early as 1957, it was reported in Bournemouth in southern England, from where it spread. It reached Scotland in 2000.

UK Status

Now quite frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records