Bifurcate Trashline Orbweaver
Allocyclosa bifurca
This record describes Allocyclosa bifurca (species). Recorded family: Araneidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Allocyclosa is a genus of orb weaver spiders that contains only one species, Allocyclosa bifurca. It was first described in 1887 by McCook under the name Cyrtophora bifurca, and was transferred to its own genus in 1999. It is the only Cyclosa species north of Mexico to have a forked tail, hence the name bifurca, Latin for two-forked. The forked abdomen, bearing two humps shaped like the letter M, is a defining feature in both males...
Wikipedia reference for Allocyclosa bifurca: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allocyclosa bifurca.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Has been collected in the United States under eaves of buildings and in date palms. For new submissions, please use the 'remarks' box to share where you found your specimen.
Geographic Range
Texas & Florida (areas outside of the United States include Baja California to Panama and also the W. Indies)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: bifurca is Latin for "two-forked", and refers to the forked abdomen.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Allocyclosa bifurca. 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 Bifurcate Trashline Orbweaver (8)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by cheins , Chuck Entz , ceiseman , Mandy Howe
Frequently Asked Questions About Bifurcate Trashline Orbweaver
What is Bifurcate Trashline Orbweaver?
Bifurcate Trashline Orbweaver (Allocyclosa bifurca) is a species in the family Araneidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Bifurcate Trashline Orbweaver?
Female body length ranges from 5.1 to 8.5mm according to Levi. Male body length is much smaller; only about 35% of the female's. This usually equates to around 2-3mm.
Where is Bifurcate Trashline Orbweaver found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Has been collected in the United States under eaves of buildings and in date palms. For new submissions, please use the 'remarks' box to share where you found your specimen. |
| Range | Texas & Florida (areas outside of the United States include Baja California to Panama and also the W. Indies) |