Micaria gertschi
This record describes Micaria gertschi (species). Recorded family: Gnaphosidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Micaria gertschi is a species of ground spider in the family Gnaphosidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.
Identification notes
Palp
Wikipedia reference for Micaria gertschi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micaria gertschi.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Gnaphosidae (Ground Spiders)
- Genus
- Micaria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"Specimens have been collected along salt marshes, dunes, sand pits, and beaches, in old fields, prairies, pastures, and calcareous bogs, under rocks and associated with aspen, lodgepole pines, and sage at elevations up to 9,000 feet"
Geographic Range
Alberta south to Arizona and east to Nova Scotia and Maine
Seasonal Activity
Mature males: late April to late August Mature females: late April to late September
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Barrows & Ivie, 1942
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Micaria gertschi. 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 Micaria gertschi (4)
Photo credits: (c) cheins1, all rights reserved, uploaded by cheins1 | (c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jared Shorma | Contributed by Chad Heins
Frequently Asked Questions About Micaria gertschi
What is Micaria gertschi?
Micaria gertschi is a species in the family Gnaphosidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Micaria gertschi?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Males | ~2.9 mm |
| Females | ~3.5 mm |
How do you identify Micaria gertschi?
Palp
Where is Micaria gertschi found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Specimens have been collected along salt marshes, dunes, sand pits, and beaches, in old fields, prairies, pastures, and calcareous bogs, under rocks and associated with aspen, lodgepole pines, and sage at elevations up to 9,000 feet |
| Range | Alberta south to Arizona and east to Nova Scotia and Maine |
When is Micaria gertschi active?
Micaria gertschi: seasonal activity - Mature males: late April to late August Mature females: late April to late September.