Rhomphaea projiciens
This record describes Rhomphaea projiciens (species). Recorded family: Theridiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Voucher Specimens: det. by Hank Guarisco (Adjunct Curator of Arachnids, Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University) Male: Female: According to Hank Guarisco, the spine at the apex of the abdomen is unique to this species. Spiders of the Eastern United States mistakenly labels a picture of Rhomphaea projiciens as Rhomphaea fictilium (p. 105).
Wikipedia reference for Rhomphaea projiciens: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhomphaea projiciens.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders)
- Genus
- Rhomphaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Texas & Florida , but specimens have been found in Georgia, as well, according to BugGuide submissions
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Click on these images to see photos of the life cycle:
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Rhomphaea projiciens. 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 Rhomphaea projiciens (2)
Photo credits: (c) Rubén Alejandro Ramírez García, all rights reserved, uploaded by Rubén Alejandro Ramírez García | Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Mandy Howe
Frequently Asked Questions About Rhomphaea projiciens
What is Rhomphaea projiciens?
Rhomphaea projiciens is a species in the family Theridiidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Rhomphaea projiciens?
Voucher Specimens: det. by Hank Guarisco (Adjunct Curator of Arachnids, Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University) Male: Female: According to Hank Guarisco, the spine at the apex of the abdomen is unique to this species. Spiders of the Eastern United States mistakenly labels a picture of Rhomphaea projiciens as Rhomphaea fictilium (p. 105).
Where is Rhomphaea projiciens found?
Range: Texas & Florida , but specimens have been found in Georgia, as well, according to BugGuide submissions
What is the life cycle of a Rhomphaea projiciens?
Click on these images to see photos of the life cycle: