Mastophora stowei
This record describes Mastophora stowei (species). Recorded family: Araneidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Where M. bisaccata, stowei & yeargani overlap in range they can be separated by the following: 1. M. bisaccata has only venter of femur I dark. 2. M. stowei has all femora dark dorsally and clypeus dark. 3. M. yeargani has no dorsal dark femora & no dark clypeus.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
widespread in the eastern US
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Mastophora stowei. 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 Mastophora stowei (2)
Photo credits: (c) Andy Deans, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andy Deans | Contributed by Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Mastophora stowei
What is Mastophora stowei?
Mastophora stowei is a species in the family Araneidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Mastophora stowei?
Where M. bisaccata, stowei & yeargani overlap in range they can be separated by the following: 1. M. bisaccata has only venter of femur I dark. 2. M. stowei has all femora dark dorsally and clypeus dark. 3. M. yeargani has no dorsal dark femora & no dark clypeus.
Where is Mastophora stowei found?
Range: widespread in the eastern US