Apollophanes margareta
This record describes Apollophanes margareta (species). Recorded family: Philodromidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
...has the posterior eye row equidistant (not like Philodromus with the posterior median eyes conspicuously closer to the laterals than to each other), a second, bigger v behind the usual small v-mark on the carapace, and 4 big light patches on the abdomen arranged like the spots on a 4 domino, but irregular or squarish in shape. ~ Rod Crawford
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Philodromidae (Running Crab Spiders)
- Genus
- Apollophanes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
The range of A. margareta is given as "B.C. south to California, Arizona and New Mexico." Like P. spectabilis, it lives in conifer canopy, but balloons a lot therefore can land anywhere. ~ Rod Crawford
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Apollophanes margareta. 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 Apollophanes margareta (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott
Frequently Asked Questions About Apollophanes margareta
What is Apollophanes margareta?
Apollophanes margareta is a species in the family Philodromidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Apollophanes margareta?
...has the posterior eye row equidistant (not like Philodromus with the posterior median eyes conspicuously closer to the laterals than to each other), a second, bigger v behind the usual small v-mark on the carapace, and 4 big light patches on the abdomen arranged like the spots on a 4 domino, but irregular or squarish in shape. ~ Rod Crawford
Where is Apollophanes margareta found?
Range: The range of A. margareta is given as B.C. south to California, Arizona and New Mexico. Like P. spectabilis, it lives in conifer canopy, but balloons a lot therefore can land anywhere. ~ Rod Crawford