Pennsylvania Funnelweb Spider
Agelenopsis pennsylvanica
This record describes Agelenopsis pennsylvanica (species). Recorded family: Agelenidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Agelenopsis pennsylvanica is a species of funnel weaver in the family of spiders known as Agelenidae. It is found in the United States.
Identification notes
Palp (ventral/lateral) Epigynum (undissected/ventral/dorsal)
Wikipedia reference for Agelenopsis pennsylvanica: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agelenopsis_pennsylvanica.
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
Habitat
This species prefers near buildings. ( 3 )
Geographic Range
This species' known distribution includes New England west to Washington and south to Utah and Louisiana. States Records from the literature: Whitman-Zai et al: CO, CT, ID, IL, KS, LA, MA, MI, ND, OH, OR, PN, TN, UT, WV Chamberlin & Ivie adds AR, IN, MD, ME, MS, NE, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, PA, WA, WI.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Agelenopsis pennsylvanica. 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 Pennsylvania Funnelweb Spider (9)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jay Barnes; Additional contributions by Jeff Hollenbeck , cheins , Laura P.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Funnelweb Spider
What is Pennsylvania Funnelweb Spider?
Pennsylvania Funnelweb Spider (Agelenopsis pennsylvanica) is a species in the family Agelenidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Pennsylvania Funnelweb Spider?
Palp (ventral/lateral) Epigynum (undissected/ventral/dorsal)
Where is Pennsylvania Funnelweb Spider found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | This species prefers near buildings. ( 3 ) |
| Range | This species' known distribution includes New England west to Washington and south to Utah and Louisiana. States Records from the literature: Whitman-Zai et al: CO, CT, ID, IL, KS, LA, MA, MI, ND, OH, OR, PN, TN, UT, WV Chamberlin & Ivie adds AR, IN, MD, ME, MS, NE, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, PA, WA, WI. |