Evansia merens
This record describes Evansia merens (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Length 2-3mm. Prosoma light brown. Opisthosoma grey. Requires examination at high magnification in good lighting, typically examination of the genitalia. Bee, L., Oxford, G., & Smith, H. (2020). Britain's Spiders: A Field Guide. Second Edition. Princeton University Press. Heath and moorland, also post-industrial sites. Found in ants nests, usually under embedded rocks. Fragmented and possibly declining populations. Mostly north and west Britain. https://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Evansia+merens No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae
- Family
- Linyphiidae
- Genus
- Evansia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Heath and moorland, also post-industrial sites. Found in ants nests, usually under embedded rocks.
Seasonal Activity
Spring-Autumn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fragmented and possibly declining populations. Mostly north and west Britain.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Evansia merens. 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 Evansia merens (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Evansia merens
What is Evansia merens?
Evansia merens is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Evansia merens?
2-3mm. Prosoma light brown. Opisthosoma grey.
Where is Evansia merens found?
Habitat: Heath and moorland, also post-industrial sites. Found in ants nests, usually under embedded rocks.
When is Evansia merens active?
Evansia merens: seasonal activity - Spring-Autumn..