On another trip (04/07/25) to record Philodromus collinus and Philodromus albidus in a further hectad I chose to visit Witton Cemetery, Northwich (SJ665737) and beat for these arboreal species. Two female P. albidus were found but P. collinus proved elusive because of a lack of yew trees (the main source for this species in churchyards, cemeteries and public parks).

Amongst the spiders beaten from the shrub beds were a few dark money spiders and once under the microscope the following day they were identified as Erigone dentipalpis (1 female), Erigone atra (1 male), Prinerigone vagans (1 male) and an Erigone aletris (1male). There was no standing water or marshy areas at the cemetery, so all of these were probably aeronauts. The E. aletris is a new species to me and this is the first British west coast record (confirmed by Richard Gallon). E. aletris is an introduced species from America, with most British records coming from around ports, although in Scotland the species has spread much further afield, so I presume the Liverpool Docks is the source for my specimen or one of its ancestors. 

This species is obviously expanding its range so it may be worth looking for around the ports along the south coast of England, northwest England, Wales, West Scotland and possibly even the Shetland Islands (associated with its oil industry). On a more local level I plan to have a few more collecting trips closer to Liverpool in the hope of becoming more acquainted with this species.