Bennett's Laceweaver
Callobius bennetti
This record describes Callobius bennetti (species). Recorded family: Amaurobiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Callobius bennetti is a species of spider in the Amaurobiidae family. It has multiple common names: Hackled Mesh Weaver, hacklemesh weaver, night spider, and tangled nest spider. They sometimes could be mistaken for hobo spiders. The species can be found in North America.
Identification notes
Palp Epigynum
Wikipedia reference for Callobius bennetti: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callobius bennetti.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Amaurobiidae (Hacklemesh Weavers)
- Genus
- Callobius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Newfoundland west to Manitoba (SK?) and Minnesota, south to Tennessee (GA?).
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Callobius bennetti. 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 Bennett's Laceweaver (6)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Bennett's Laceweaver
What is Bennett's Laceweaver?
Bennett's Laceweaver (Callobius bennetti) is a species in the family Amaurobiidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Bennett's Laceweaver?
Palp Epigynum
Where is Bennett's Laceweaver found?
Range: Newfoundland west to Manitoba (SK?) and Minnesota, south to Tennessee (GA?).