Autumn Money Spider
Erigone autumnalis
This record describes Erigone autumnalis (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Erigone autumnalis is a species of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae. It is found in North and Central America, and it has been introduced to Azores, Europe, United Arab Emirates, and New Caledonia.
Identification notes
Palp: Epigynum:
Wikipedia reference for Erigone autumnalis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erigone autumnalis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Linyphiidae (Sheetweb and Dwarf Spiders)
- Subfamily
- Erigoninae
- Genus
- Erigone
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
USA to Panama, West Indies, Azores, Europe, UAE according to World Spider Catalog. U.S. distribution: NY, ME, NH, MA, NJ, MD, DC, VA, NC, TN, FL, KY, IL, MS, MO, KS, OK, TX
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Erigone autumnalis. 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 Autumn Money Spider (4)
Photo credits: (c) Sarah Rose, all rights reserved, uploaded by Sarah Rose | (c) cheins1, all rights reserved, uploaded by cheins1 | Contributed by Chad Heins
Frequently Asked Questions About Autumn Money Spider
What is Autumn Money Spider?
Autumn Money Spider (Erigone autumnalis) is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Autumn Money Spider?
Males and females both about 1.5mm
How do you identify Autumn Money Spider?
Palp: Epigynum:
Where is Autumn Money Spider found?
Range: USA to Panama, West Indies, Azores, Europe, UAE according to World Spider Catalog. U.S. distribution: NY, ME, NH, MA, NJ, MD, DC, VA, NC, TN, FL, KY, IL, MS, MO, KS, OK, TX