Pardosa prativaga

These were found in pitfall traps alongside Pardosa pullata and Pardosa amentata. I found the males quite challenging as their pedipalps didn't seem to perfectly resemble the diagrams. Flat on they were more similar to pullata than I expected (slight difference in the shape of the median apophysis which seemed to consistently lie more perpendicular to the pedipalp than as diagonally as shown in various diagrams). In side view the strongly hooked tip provided a clear differentiation from pullata.

5-6x male Pardosa prativaga showing pedipalps at various orientations, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 11th-12th May 2025

There were a lot of similarities between the pedipalp of the above spiders and Pardosa pullata which was in the same traps. In fact in flat view they really were very similar indeed, which caused me to question whether they really were different species. But in side view the prativaga clearly had a strongly hooked tip whereas in the pullata this was smaller and not hooked downwards at all.

male Pardosa pullata and male Pardosa prativaga pedipalps, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 11th-12th May 2025 - in both photos the pullata is on the left and the prativaga on the right

In some ways the females were easier although the differences are fairly subtle. It as handy being able to compare different species side by side.

2x female Pardosa prativaga showing epigynes before and after clearing, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 11th-12th May 2025