Ray Spider
EN

Ray Spider

Theridiosoma gemmosum

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theridiosoma_gemmosum

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Ray Spider faces severe habitat degradation from agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited European range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the delicate moisture conditions required for its specialized web-building behavior in woodland understories. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions from habitat fragmentation.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Ray Spider inhabits the understory of mature deciduous and mixed forests, particularly favoring areas with high humidity and dense vegetation. It constructs its distinctive ray-like orb webs in sheltered locations among low shrubs and herbaceous plants in woodland clearings and forest edges.

Threatened in Austria

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
VU

Large Tree-chernes

Dendrochernes cyrneus

Unknown
VU

Olive Skipper

Pyrgus serratulae

Unknown
SandoldenborreCR

Sandoldenborre

Hoplia graminicola

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Ray Spider classified as Endangered?
Ray Spider is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Ray Spider faces severe habitat degradation from agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited European range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the delicate moisture conditions required for its specialized web-building behavior in woodland understories. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions from habitat fragmentation.
Where does Ray Spider live?
Ray Spider occurs in Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, and Denmark (plus 21 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Ray Spider?
The main threats to Ray Spider are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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