Thrifty Short-legged Sheetweaver
Agyneta micaria
This record describes Agyneta micaria (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Carapace | Carapace brown, shiny, finely reticulate; suffused with gray along radiating lines and margin; trident mark present. |
| Legs | Legs light yellow, coxae with dark mark apically, tip of femurs and metatarsus I-IV with dark gray marks Male abdomen patterned, with apical and basal dark, wide bands, flanking an off-white middle portion or apical and basal dark bands reduced. Example below: Female abdomen patterned, off-white with two vertical dark bands latero-apically and latero-basally or two vertical dark bands latero-apically with two dark spots medially and a zigzag dark bands basally. Examples below: Palp Epigynum Males and females can be easily separated from all other species in the genus by their abdominal patterns. See diagrams in Dupérré, 2013 (page 121). |
Wikipedia reference for Agyneta micaria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agyneta micaria.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Linyphiidae (Sheetweb and Dwarf Spiders)
- Subfamily
- Linyphiinae
- Genus
- Agyneta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Oak-pine forest, mixed oak hardwoods, cypress swamp, meadow edge
Geographic Range
Southeastern USA, north to Ontario and west to Texas. According to the American Arachnological Society --ON; AL, AR, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, NC, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, WI, WV
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Egg sac:
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: (Emerton, 1882)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Agyneta micaria. 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 Thrifty Short-legged Sheetweaver (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Laura P.; Additional contributions by cheins , Mandy Howe
Frequently Asked Questions About Thrifty Short-legged Sheetweaver
What is Thrifty Short-legged Sheetweaver?
Thrifty Short-legged Sheetweaver (Agyneta micaria) is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Thrifty Short-legged Sheetweaver?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 1.82mm |
| Female | 1.91mm |
How do you identify Thrifty Short-legged Sheetweaver?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Carapace | Carapace brown, shiny, finely reticulate; suffused with gray along radiating lines and margin; trident mark present. |
| Legs | Legs light yellow, coxae with dark mark apically, tip of femurs and metatarsus I-IV with dark gray marks Male abdomen patterned, with apical and basal dark, wide bands, flanking an off-white middle portion or apical and basal dark bands reduced. Example below: Female abdomen patterned, off-white with two vertical dark bands latero-apically and latero-basally or two vertical dark bands latero-apically with two dark spots medially and a zigzag dark bands basally. Examples below: Palp Epigynum |
Where is Thrifty Short-legged Sheetweaver found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Oak-pine forest, mixed oak hardwoods, cypress swamp, meadow edge |
| Range | Southeastern USA, north to Ontario and west to Texas. According to the American Arachnological Society --ON; AL, AR, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, NC, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, WI, WV |
What is the life cycle of a Thrifty Short-legged Sheetweaver?
Egg sac: