A spider on the edge: century–scale shifts at the northwestern distribution limit of Lycosa singoriensis

Abstract The South Russian wolf spider ( Lycosa singoriensis ), a large thermophilous species native to Eurasian steppe regions, has shown marked distribution shifts at the northwestern edge of its range in Central Europe, particularly in Czechia. This study synthesizes historical and recent occurrence records of L. singoriensis in Czechia from 1924 to 2023 (n = 89), integrating species data with long-term weather observations from southeastern Czechia. The results reveal two major temporal clusters of records: an initial expansion from the 1920s to the 1950s, and a resurgence beginning in the early 2000s. Both periods coincide with climatologically anomalous summers characterized by above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation. Conversely, the mid-20th century, especially the 1950s–1990s, lacked such anomalies and coincided with the species’ apparent local extinction. Habitat analysis confirmed strong associations with thermophilic open environments, including anthropogenic landscapes, such as gravel-sand pits and military training areas. The study highlights climate change as the primary driver of the species’ regional dynamics, with land-use change playing a secondary role. The conservation implications of these findings lie in recognizing military training areas and industrial wastelands as critical habitats for L. singoriensis and other steppe-adapted species. This study also highlights the importance of combining biodiversity records with long-term weather records to guide monitoring and conservation planning under climate change.