Estrandia grandaeva
This record describes Estrandia grandaeva (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Cephalothorax | Cephalothorax yellow-brown, lightly suffused with gray, darkest along margin and furrows. A dark line on median furrow forks at head sending a branch toward each posterior lateral eye; space between these branches usually darkened. One or two faint gray lines from median furrow to anterior median eyes usually present. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen dark gray or brown above and on sides with irregular light spots and lines, sometimes two light gray lateral lines about half length of abdomen, almost meeting in front Palp The spider builds a flat web between the branches of spruce and fir trees up to three or four feet above the ground. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Linyphiidae (Sheetweb and Dwarf Spiders)
- Subfamily
- Linyphiinae
- Genus
- Estrandia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
According to the American Arachnological Society --AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, NU, ON, PQ, SK, YT; AK, MA, ME, NC, NH, NY, OH, TN, VA
Seasonal Activity
Matures in June and July
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Estrandia grandaeva. 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 Estrandia grandaeva (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Estrandia grandaeva
What is Estrandia grandaeva?
Estrandia grandaeva is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Estrandia grandaeva?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 2.5mm |
| Female | 2.4-2.8mm |
How do you identify Estrandia grandaeva?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Cephalothorax | Cephalothorax yellow-brown, lightly suffused with gray, darkest along margin and furrows. A dark line on median furrow forks at head sending a branch toward each posterior lateral eye; space between these branches usually darkened. One or two faint gray lines from median furrow to anterior median eyes usually present. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen dark gray or brown above and on sides with irregular light spots and lines, sometimes two light gray lateral lines about half length of abdomen, almost meeting in front Palp |
Where is Estrandia grandaeva found?
Range: According to the American Arachnological Society --AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, NU, ON, PQ, SK, YT; AK, MA, ME, NC, NH, NY, OH, TN, VA
When is Estrandia grandaeva active?
Estrandia grandaeva: seasonal activity - Matures in June and July.