SeasonalityMales from May to August and females from May to October (Dondale & Redner, 1990; Pickavance 2001).IdentificationPardosa fuscula is the only species of the Pardosa atrata group present in North America (Dondale & Redner, 1987). Carapace (dorsal portion of the cephalothorax or head region) broad, dark brown, darker in the eye region, with two longitudinal lighter bands near the lateral edges (these bands more distinct in females), one smaller stripe the same color, over de dorsal mid line covering just the thoracic groove. Mouthparts: Chelicerae, labium, and endites dark brown. Sternum (ventral plate between legs) dark brown. Coxae (1st leg segment) and legs dark and dusky with dorsal black streaks, especially on femora (3rd leg segment). Abdomen dark brown to black with an antero-dorsal light patch, lighter ventrally. Length between 6.5 to 7.6 mm. Males are usually similar than females but darker and slightly smaller. Male palp (see additional picture, articulated appendages anterior to 1st pair of legs): Terminal apophysis (ta in image) small and curved, finger like, median apophysis (ma in image) big and swollen with two projections, anterior projection broad and curved posteriorly, posterior projection small and hooked anteriorly Female epigynum (see additional picture, located in the anterior ventral side of the abdomen): Wider than long, lateral plates (lp in image) broadly rounded on each side, posterior endings swollen (1 in image), anterior part of septum (s in image) slender and narrow, posterior part triangular fitting between posterior ends of lateral plates (2 in image), atrium (a in image) broad and rounded.
Scientific NamePardosa fusculaHabitat
Associated to high moisture habitats, near water (Graham et al 2003).
Seasonality
Males from May to August and females from May to October (Dondale & Redner, 1990; Pickavance 2001).
Identification
Pardosa fuscula is the only species of the Pardosa atrata group present in North America (Dondale & Redner, 1987). Carapace (dorsal portion of the cephalothorax or head region) broad, dark brown, darker in the eye…
Pardosa fuscula is the only species of the Pardosa atrata group present in North America (Dondale & Redner, 1987). Carapace (dorsal portion of the cephalothorax or head region) broad, dark brown, darker in the eye region, with two longitudinal lighter bands near the lateral edges (these bands more distinct in females), one smaller stripe the same color, over de dorsal mid line covering just the thoracic groove. Mouthparts: Chelicerae, labium, and endites dark brown. Sternum (ventral plate between legs) dark brown. Coxae (1st leg segment) and legs dark and dusky with dorsal black streaks, especially on femora (3rd leg segment). Abdomen dark brown to black with an antero-dorsal light patch, lighter ventrally. Length between 6.5 to 7.6 mm. Males are usually similar than females but darker and slightly smaller. Male palp (see additional picture, articulated appendages anterior to 1st pair of legs): Terminal apophysis (ta in image) small and curved, finger like, median apophysis (ma in image) big and swollen with two projections, anterior projection broad and curved posteriorly, posterior projection small and hooked anteriorly Female epigynum (see additional picture, located in the anterior ventral side of the abdomen): Wider than long, lateral plates (lp in image) broadly rounded on each side, posterior endings swollen (1 in image), anterior part of septum (s in image) slender and narrow, posterior part triangular fitting between posterior ends of lateral plates (2 in image), atrium (a in image) broad and rounded.
Life History
This species is typically found near water bodies and shows high affinity to this habitat, it has been considered as a semi-aquatic species, having a strong positive correlation with moist litoral areas (Graham et al…
This species is typically found near water bodies and shows high affinity to this habitat, it has been considered as a semi-aquatic species, having a strong positive correlation with moist litoral areas (Graham et al 2004), such as salt marshes (Dondale & Redner 1990), meadows (Dondale & Redner 1990; Nordstrom & Buckle 2002), bogs, swamps, beaches (Benell-Aitchison & Dondale 1990) and peatlands (Dondale & Redner 1994). As many other Pardosa species, P. fuscula shows a biennial life cycle (Pickavance 2001), copulation events may occur through all summer because females with egg sacs have been collected from late May to mid October (Dondale & Redner 1990), although these should be more frequent during August because spiderlings show higher abundances during September that in other months (Pickavance 2001). As many other Pardosa species, P. fuscula immatures overwinter two times before reaching adult stage (Pickavance 2001).
Conservation
According to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC 2005a, 2005b) this species is not in any risk category.
Diet Info
Generalist predator, no information available.
Range
Alaska to Newfoundland, south to northern New Mexico and northern New England (Dondale & Redner 1990).
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Citation
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Page Citation for Pardosa fuscula
Page Citation
"Species Details - Pardosa fuscula, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-5884. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
References
AuthorBenell-Aitchison, C. W. and C. D. Dondale
TitleA Checlist of Manitoba Spiders (Araneae) with notes on Geographic Relationships.
Publication Date1990
Series TitleNaturaliste Canadien
Volume117
Pages215-237
AuthorBreene R., A. Dean, G. Edwards, B. Herbert, H. Levi, G. Manning, K. McWest and L. Sorkin
TitleCommon Names of Arachnids.
Publication Date2003
Pages43 pp
AuthorGraham, A. K., C. M. Buddle and J. R. Spence
TitleHabitat affinities of spiders living near a freshwater pond.
Publication Date2003
Series TitleThe Journal of Arachnology
Volume31
Pages78-89
AuthorPickavance, J. R.
TitleLife-cycles of four species of Pardosa (Aranea, Lycoscidae) from the island of Newfoundland, Canada.
Publication Date2001
Series TitleThe Journal of Arachnology
Volume29
Pages367-377
AuthorCOSEWIC
TitleReport on Canadian species at risk.
Publication Date2005
AuthorCOSEWIC
TitleReport on Candidate List.
Publication Date2005
AuthorNordstrom, W. R. and C. M. Buckle
TitleSpider Records from four Wildland Parks in Northeastern Alberta.
Publication Date2002
Pages32 pp
AuthorDondale, C. D. and J. H. Redner
TitleSpiders (Aranae) of six small peatlands in Southern Ontario or Southwestern Quebec.
Publication Date1994
Series TitleMemoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada
Volume196
Pages33-40
AuthorDondale, C. D. and J. H. Redner
TitleThe atrata, cubana, ferruginea, moesta, monticola, salturia, and solituda groups of the Spider Genus Pardosa in North America (Aranea: Lycoscidae).
Publication Date1987
Series TitleThe Canadian Entomologist
Volume119
Pages1-19
AuthorDondale, C. D. and J. H. Redner
TitleThe Wold Spiders, Nurseryweb Spiders, and Lynx Spiders of Canada and Alaska.
Publication Date1990
Pages383 pp
Specimen Information
There are 46 specimens of this Species.
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46 results plotted on map in 24 markers. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Caribou Mountains Wildland Park, Wentzel RiverCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, J. S.Date Collected2003-07-07/2003-07-11
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Colin-Cornwall Lakes Wildland Park, Esker LakeCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, D. N.; Ash, L.Date Collected2002-07-09
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Colin-Cornwall Lakes Wildland Park, Esker LakeCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, D. N.; Ash, L.Date Collected2002-07-08/2002-07-09
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Colin-Cornwall Lakes Wildland Park, Esker LakeCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, D. N.; Ash, L.Date Collected2002-07-08/2002-07-10
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Gardiner LakesCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, J. S.; Holmberg, R. G.Date Collected2004-06-05/2004-06-06
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Gardiner LakesCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, J. S.; Holmberg, R. G.Date Collected2004-06-07/2004-06-09
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Namur LakeCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, J. S.; Holmberg, R. G.Date Collected2004-06-09/2004-06-13
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Gardiner LakesCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, J. S.; Holmberg, R. G.Date Collected2004-06-09/2004-06-14
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Namur LakeCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, J. S.; Holmberg, R. G.Date Collected2004-06-13
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Gardiner LakesCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, J. S.; Holmberg, R. G.Date Collected2004-06-08/2004-06-14
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Gardiner LakesCollected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, J. S.; Holmberg, R. G.Date Collected2004-06-05/2004-06-06