San Miguel Island Orbweaver
Metepeira pimungan
This record describes Metepeira pimungan (species). Recorded family: Araneidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
White eye region. White median ventral mark on abdomen flanked by shorter parallel thin lines on either side. Black sternum with white teardrop shaped mark on the posterior half. Legs mostly white with with bands on legs 3 & 4. Spinnerets flanked on each side by one white spot.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Endemic on San Miguel Island, Santa Barbara Co., California
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The specific name is a noun in apposition after the Indian people who once lived on the Channel Islands - Piel, 2001
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Metepeira pimungan. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Miguel Island Orbweaver
What is San Miguel Island Orbweaver?
San Miguel Island Orbweaver (Metepeira pimungan) is a species in the family Araneidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify San Miguel Island Orbweaver?
White eye region. White median ventral mark on abdomen flanked by shorter parallel thin lines on either side. Black sternum with white teardrop shaped mark on the posterior half. Legs mostly white with with bands on legs 3 & 4. Spinnerets flanked on each side by one white spot.
Where is San Miguel Island Orbweaver found?
Range: Endemic on San Miguel Island, Santa Barbara Co., California