Two male Xysticus lineatus spiders – AKA the North European crab spider – were recently discovered in a forest in Tisvilde Hegn in north Zealand.
Specialists are currently looking for females of the same species to firmly establish the presence of a population on Danish soil.
It’s an exciting wait for Frederik Lick Fisher, a graduate biologist from the University of Copenhagen who did his master’s thesis on crab spider sensory physiology, as it could mean he has discovered a species never recorded in Denmark before – a culmination of four years of work.
Spiders unlikely to be invasive
“Given that the species of spider is very rare, we know little about it, but we know that it focuses on a restricted niche so there is not much impact on other species,” Lick Fisher told CPH POST.
Hitherto, no spider species has ever been recognised as invasive in Denmark, and Fisher believes the same will be true of Xysticus lineatus.
In fact, to the contrary, he asserts “it will be high value for the nature field if we can still find rare species here,” as it would further encourage the conservation of biodiversity at national scale.
Not dangerous to humans
No spider species is dangerous to humans in Denmark.
Contrary to what the photos suggest, the female spider of this species measures 7mm and the risk of bites is extremely low.
