Robertus vigerens
This record describes Robertus vigerens (species). Recorded family: Theridiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Robertus vigerens is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.
Identification notes
Palp Epigynum
Wikipedia reference for Robertus vigerens: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertus vigerens.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders)
- Genus
- Robertus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
USA, Canada, Alaska
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Authors of name: Chamberlin & Ivie. Year first published: 1933
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Robertus vigerens. 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 Robertus vigerens (3)
Photo credits: (c) Thomas Barbin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Thomas Barbin | Contributed by Kyron Basu; Additional contributions by Lynette Elliott , cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Robertus vigerens
What is Robertus vigerens?
Robertus vigerens is a species in the family Theridiidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Robertus vigerens?
Palp Epigynum
Where is Robertus vigerens found?
Range: USA, Canada, Alaska