A schizomid, Stenochrus portoricensis Chamberlin, 1922 (family Hubbardiidae), was collected in a greenhouse in Brno. This is the first discovery of a schizomid from the Czech Republic.

The first record of the very rare linyphiid spider Ceraticelus bulbosus (Emerton, 1882) from Germany is presented. Furthermore records of Agroeca dentigera, Agyneta arietans, Bathyphantes setiger, Brommella falcigera, Crustulina sticta, Erigone dentigera, Meioneta mossica, and Pardosa morosa and other rare spiders are reported.

The present study provides a robust data set for ecological planning and conservation of dry ecosystems in western Germany in general and North Rhine-Westphalia in particular. We summarised all available data from recent publications that dealt with spiders in dry ecosystems of North Rhine-Westphalia. Additionally, so far unpublished results of a detailed investigation regarding spiders in sand habitats of the Westphalian Bay that was conducted between 2006 and 2008 are presented. The analysis focussed on the habitat types according to Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive and related habitats. The investigation areas were scattered in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The data set comprised a total of 84436 individuals from 371 species and 28 families. Overall, an endangerment status is assigned to 68 species. Of these, 12 spiders are in imminent danger of becoming extinct. Two species, Erigonoplus globipes and Meioneta simplicitarsis, are believed to be extinct in North Rhine-Westphalia. Seven species (Dictyna major, Mastigusa arietina, Micaria formicaria, Styloctetor romanus, Thanatus striatus, Theridion uhligi and Xysticus ferrugineus) are new to the arachnofauna of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Five species were recorded for the first time in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany: Psilochorus simoni (Berland, 1911) (Pholcidae), Ero aphana (Walckenaer, 1802) (Mimetidae), Panamomops mengei Simon, 1926 (Linyphiidae), Archaeodictyna consecuta (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) (Dictynidae). Nigma walckenaeri (Roewer, 1951) (Dictynidae) is not considered to be rare, but a record is published from this region for the first time. A new northernmost distribution point for Theridion boesenbergi Strand, 1914 (Theridiidae) was recorded. Notes on other species rarely found in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony are also provided.

congress report

book review: Hay Wijnhoven (2009): De Nederlandse hooiwagens (Opiliones)

book review: Stephen Dalton (2009): Spinnen – Die erfolgreichen Jäger

book review: Janet Beccaloni (2009): Arachnids

obituary, Friedrich Wallenstein. Link for German translation of Fabre: arages.de/files/Wallenstein_Fabre_2009.pdf

Data and a drawing of the epigyne of Phoneutria boliviensis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897), recently recorded from Germany, are presented. The specimen was introduced with cargo (bananas) from Brazil. Characters of the single female are illustrated to facilitate identification in the future, since in the two recent revisions of the genus no drawing of the epigyne of P. boliviensis was included. Another case of introduction from 1998 of an unidentified subadult Phoneutria specimen, probably P. boliviensis too, with bananas from Ecuador is documented.

obituary, Jean-Pierre Maelfait

European Spider of the Year 2010

tribute, Gerd Alberti

The great raft spider, Dolomedes plantarius (Clerck, 1757), is a rare and endangered species in Germany and other European countries. Current data on its distribution and ecology are briefly reviewed. Five new (or overlooked) localities for this spider from the Spreewald-region of Brandenburg in eastern Germany are provided, together with an updated distribution map. One record, based on the authors’ own collections, is described and figured in detail, with the egg-carrying female discovered in reeds at the edge of a fairly large body of open water. Both direct and indirect protective measures for the habitats of this species in the Spreewald-region are recommended.

The taxonomic position of the poorly known species Roeweriella balcanica Kratochvíl, 1932 from Croatia is discussed. The species is illustrated and re-described on the basis of the female holotype. The genus Roeweriella Kratochvíl, 1932 (type species: R. balcanica Kratochvíl, 1932 by monotypy) is synonymized with Marpissa C.L. Koch, 1846, and therefore the new combination, Marpissa (Marpissa) balcanica (Kratochvíl, 1932) comb.nov., is proposed.

Comparison of the detailed species-specific original drawings of Microneta pusilla Menge, 1869 with the holotype of Hypsocephalus dahli (Lessert, 1909) and the record of one female close to the type locality of Microneta pusilla in Gdańsk, Poland indicate that Hypsocephalus dahli is a junior synonym of Microneta pusilla. Hypsocephalus pusillus (Menge, 1869) is therefore proposed as the valid name for this species. Here we discuss the taxonomic status of both species and present a distribution map that accounts for records in Poland.