Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider
Sosippus placidus
This record describes Sosippus placidus (species). Recorded family: Lycosidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Sosippus species are not wholly dependent on their webs for prey capture. They will abandon their webs and forage like typical lycosids if no prey for extended periods. Should potential prey escape web before the spider can reach it, placidus will readily leave its web to pursue prey in the same manner as typical wolf spiders.
Wikipedia reference for Sosippus placidus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Placid_funnel_wolf_spider.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Xeric scrub, on ground to several feet above ground in plants. Retreats may extend underground.
Geographic Range
Currently only recorded from Highlands County, FL.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Wandering and flying insects.
Life History
Spiderlings disperse in web as opposed to congregating on females dorsum, typical of other Lycosids. Females care for their offspring until they begin to leave the web. Some offspring stay close to the females web, and small colonies may form as a result.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Lake Placid, type locality.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Sosippus placidus. 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 Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider (5)
Photo credits: (c) Johannes, all rights reserved, uploaded by Johannes | no rights reserved, uploaded by Lyn Roueche | (c) Gabriel Somarriba, all rights reserved, uploaded by Gabriel Somarriba | (c) River, all rights reserved, uploaded by River | Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Laura P.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider
What is Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider?
Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider (Sosippus placidus) is a species in the family Lycosidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider?
One of the largest North American lycosids, comparable in size to the large Hogna species. Significantly larger than other Sosippus species, adult males having up to an 80mm legspan and 20mm body length.
Where is Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Xeric scrub, on ground to several feet above ground in plants. Retreats may extend underground. |
| Range | Currently only recorded from Highlands County, FL. |
What does Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider eat?
The diet of the Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider includes Wandering and flying insects..
What is the life cycle of a Lake Placid Funnel-web Spider?
Spiderlings disperse in web as opposed to congregating on females dorsum, typical of other Lycosids. Females care for their offspring until they begin to leave the web. Some offspring stay close to the females web, and small colonies may form as a result.