Dominican Spider
Leucauge licina
This record describes Leucauge licina (species). Recorded family: Tetragnathidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Female characterized by bright red abdomen and cephalothorax with black markings and two parallel rows of trichobothria on the fourth femurs (they look like a eyelashes). The elongated tail is sometimes forked and sometimes pointed, which appears to be a geographic variation according to Levi's description. The male is tiny in size and orange in coloration. Has an oval abdomen with a dark posterior patch and ventrally a pair of white patches. The palps are rather large and bulbous in comparison to the spider's body size. Possibly a recent invasive/adventive species to Florida. Formerly placed in Alcimosphenus , synonymized with Leucuage by Ballesteros, J. A. & Hormiga, G., 2021.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Tetragnathidae (Long-jawed Orb Weavers)
- Genus
- Leucauge
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Endemic to the West Indies.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Leucauge licina. 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 Dominican Spider (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Will Chatfield-Taylor; Additional contributions by Mandy Howe , Laura P.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dominican Spider
What is Dominican Spider?
Dominican Spider (Leucauge licina) is a species in the family Tetragnathidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Dominican Spider?
Females: 6-10mm, Males 1-1.8mm
How do you identify Dominican Spider?
Female characterized by bright red abdomen and cephalothorax with black markings and two parallel rows of trichobothria on the fourth femurs (they look like a eyelashes). The elongated tail is sometimes forked and sometimes pointed, which appears to be a geographic variation according to Levi's description. The male is tiny in size and orange in coloration. Has an oval abdomen with a dark posterior patch and ventrally a pair of white patches. The palps are rather large and bulbous in comparison to the spider's body size.
Where is Dominican Spider found?
Range: Endemic to the West Indies.