Cryptachaea porteri
This record describes Cryptachaea porteri (species). Recorded family: Theridiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Abdomen with or without a tubercle in both genders. Levi says the variation in this species, particularly in the female, is unusually great. Voucher adult male: Voucher adult female: Females of this species typically use debris to camouflage their retreat (a similar-looking species, Parasteatoda tepidariorum , doesn't normally do this).
Wikipedia reference for Cryptachaea porteri: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptachaea porteri.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders)
- Genus
- Cryptachaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Levi, 1955, notes that it makes webs in caves and under objects such as bricks and lumber. However, Dr. Leonard Vincent has collected at least one mating pair indoors in California, in a bedroom corner (pers. comm. Lenny Vincent, 8 June 2014).
Geographic Range
Seems to only be found east of the Rocky Mountains, but is now also established in California. Published localities include: AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MD, MS, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, w TX, VA.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Cryptachaea porteri. 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 Cryptachaea porteri (2)
Photo credits: (c) Jaico Caballero, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jaico Caballero | Contributed by Devin Carroll; Additional contributions by Lynette Elliott , Mandy Howe
Frequently Asked Questions About Cryptachaea porteri
What is Cryptachaea porteri?
Cryptachaea porteri is a species in the family Theridiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Cryptachaea porteri?
Female body length 5mm or less. Male body length 3mm or less.
How do you identify Cryptachaea porteri?
Abdomen with or without a tubercle in both genders. Levi says the variation in this species, particularly in the female, is unusually great. Voucher adult male: Voucher adult female:
Where is Cryptachaea porteri found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Levi, 1955, notes that it makes webs in caves and under objects such as bricks and lumber. However, Dr. Leonard Vincent has collected at least one mating pair indoors in California, in a bedroom corner (pers. comm. Lenny Vincent, 8 June 2014). |
| Range | Seems to only be found east of the Rocky Mountains, but is now also established in California. Published localities include: AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MD, MS, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, w TX, VA. |