Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver
Drapetisca alteranda
This record describes Drapetisca alteranda (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
The carapace is light with black edges and a black spot on each of the radial furrows. There is also a Y-shaped black spot at the anterior end of the dorsal furrow. The abdomen is highest in front, broadly oval seen from above, and pointed behind. It is light with several pairs of gray spots. Epigynum
Wikipedia reference for Drapetisca alteranda: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drapetisca_alteranda.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Linyphiidae (Sheetweb and Dwarf Spiders)
- Subfamily
- Linyphiinae
- Genus
- Drapetisca
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This species occurs most commonly on tree trunks but can also be found in the leaf litter.
Geographic Range
According to distribution data from BugGuide/iNaturalist: Alaska south to Washington and east to New England across the northern parts of North America, extending as far south as North Carolina in the Appalachians.
Seasonal Activity
Matures in July and early August
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Drapetisca alteranda. 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 Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver
What is Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver?
Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver (Drapetisca alteranda) is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 3.2-3.8mm |
| Female | 4.0-4.5mm |
How do you identify Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver?
The carapace is light with black edges and a black spot on each of the radial furrows. There is also a Y-shaped black spot at the anterior end of the dorsal furrow. The abdomen is highest in front, broadly oval seen from above, and pointed behind. It is light with several pairs of gray spots. Epigynum
Where is Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | This species occurs most commonly on tree trunks but can also be found in the leaf litter. |
| Range | According to distribution data from BugGuide/iNaturalist: Alaska south to Washington and east to New England across the northern parts of North America, extending as far south as North Carolina in the Appalachians. |
When is Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver active?
Northern Long-toothed Sheetweaver: seasonal activity - Matures in July and early August.