Banksula melones
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Banksula melones faces significant pressure from urban development and agricultural expansion throughout its limited range in California's Central Valley. The species' specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to fragmentation, as remaining populations become increasingly isolated in small patches of suitable terrain. Pesticide use in surrounding agricultural areas poses additional chemical contamination risks to this ground-dwelling spider.
Habitat
This spider inhabits dry grasslands, oak woodlands, and scrubland areas of California's Central Valley and adjacent foothills. It typically constructs its webs in low vegetation and ground-level microhabitats with specific moisture and temperature requirements.