Gnaphosa sericata
This record describes Gnaphosa sericata (species). Recorded family: Gnaphosidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Gnaphosa sericata is a species of ground spider in the family Gnaphosidae. It is found in a range from the United States to Guatemala and Cuba.
Identification notes
Palp Epigynum
Wikipedia reference for Gnaphosa sericata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnaphosa sericata.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Gnaphosidae (Ground Spiders)
- Genus
- Gnaphosa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Utah to Michigan and NewYork, south to Mexico, Florida, and Cuba.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Gnaphosa sericata. 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 Gnaphosa sericata (5)
Photo credits: (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Judy Gallagher | (c) Joshua Doby, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Joshua Doby | (c) John Ratzlaff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by John Ratzlaff | (c) aispinsects, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aispinsects | Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by cheins , Laura P.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gnaphosa sericata
What is Gnaphosa sericata?
Gnaphosa sericata is a species in the family Gnaphosidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Gnaphosa sericata?
Palp Epigynum
Where is Gnaphosa sericata found?
Range: Utah to Michigan and NewYork, south to Mexico, Florida, and Cuba.