Kaston’s Funnelweb Spider
Agelenopsis kastoni
This record describes Agelenopsis kastoni (species). Recorded family: Agelenidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Agelenopsis kastoni is a species of funnel weaver in the family of spiders known as Agelenidae. It is found in the United States.
Identification notes
Palp/Embolus Tip Epigynum
Wikipedia reference for Agelenopsis kastoni: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agelenopsis kastoni.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Agelenidae (Funnel Weavers)
- Subfamily
- Ageleninae
- Genus
- Agelenopsis (Grass Spiders)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Connecticut south to Georgia and west to New Mexico
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Agelenopsis kastoni. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Kaston’s Funnelweb Spider (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Jeff Hollenbeck , cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Kaston’s Funnelweb Spider
What is Kaston’s Funnelweb Spider?
Kaston’s Funnelweb Spider (Agelenopsis kastoni) is a species in the family Agelenidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Kaston’s Funnelweb Spider?
Palp/Embolus Tip Epigynum
Where is Kaston’s Funnelweb Spider found?
Range: Connecticut south to Georgia and west to New Mexico