Amaurobius borealis
This record describes Amaurobius borealis (species). Recorded family: Amaurobiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Amaurobius borealis is a species of hacklemesh weaver in the spider family Amaurobiidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.
Identification notes
Eye arrangement Left palp (ventral/dorsal/distal-ventral) Epigynum
Wikipedia reference for Amaurobius borealis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaurobius borealis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Amaurobiidae (Hacklemesh Weavers)
- Genus
- Amaurobius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Under logs or small stones or deep in the leaf litter.
Geographic Range
Newfoundland west to British Columbia in Canada; Maine south to New York and west to Minnesota in the United States.
Seasonal Activity
April to October with peak in May.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Black Flies are indicated by Leech, 1972 but will probably eat any small arthropods.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Emerton, 1909
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Amaurobius borealis. 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 Amaurobius borealis (7)
Photo credits: (c) Tom Murray, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tom Murray | (c) Erika Mitchell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Erika Mitchell | Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by cheins , jsloan
Frequently Asked Questions About Amaurobius borealis
What is Amaurobius borealis?
Amaurobius borealis is a species in the family Amaurobiidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Amaurobius borealis?
Eye arrangement Left palp (ventral/dorsal/distal-ventral) Epigynum
Where is Amaurobius borealis found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Under logs or small stones or deep in the leaf litter. |
| Range | Newfoundland west to British Columbia in Canada; Maine south to New York and west to Minnesota in the United States. |
What does Amaurobius borealis eat?
The diet of the Amaurobius borealis includes Black Flies are indicated by Leech, 1972 but will probably eat any small arthropods..
When is Amaurobius borealis active?
Amaurobius borealis: seasonal activity - April to October with peak in May..