Metepeira crassipes
This record describes Metepeira crassipes (species). Recorded family: Araneidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
The white sternal band may be broken as in grinnelli . This species is smaller than grinnelli . Females can be confused with arizonica , males are more often confused with ventura . Ventral view has both abdominal vertical white band & sternal vertical white band. Voucher Specimen: Male
Wikipedia reference for Metepeira crassipes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metepeira crassipes.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
A large number were collected from Riverside County, CA. Range is CA.
Seasonal Activity
April to October.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of the name: Chamberlin & Ivie. Year first published: 1942.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Metepeira crassipes. 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 Metepeira crassipes (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Metepeira crassipes
What is Metepeira crassipes?
Metepeira crassipes is a species in the family Araneidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Metepeira crassipes?
Females 4.9 to 7.2 mm, Males 2.9 to 4.7 mm
How do you identify Metepeira crassipes?
The white sternal band may be broken as in grinnelli . This species is smaller than grinnelli . Females can be confused with arizonica , males are more often confused with ventura . Ventral view has both abdominal vertical white band & sternal vertical white band. Voucher Specimen: Male
Where is Metepeira crassipes found?
Range: A large number were collected from Riverside County, CA. Range is CA.
When is Metepeira crassipes active?
Metepeira crassipes: seasonal activity - April to October..