Silver Longjawed Orbweaver
Tetragnatha laboriosa
This record describes Tetragnatha laboriosa (species). Recorded family: Tetragnathidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Not diagnostic, but can separate some species: Female Male Laboriosa has silvery patches on abdomen and the lateral eyes are distinctly separated from each other. The carapace marks are straight, diverging lines. Actually, the carapace pattern (which Levi doesn't mention) is just about the most reliable of all. ~ R. Crawford
Wikipedia reference for Tetragnatha laboriosa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragnatha laboriosa.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Tetragnathidae (Long-jawed Orb Weavers)
- Genus
- Tetragnatha (Longjawed Orbweavers)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Often found in fields, but lives in many habitats.
Geographic Range
All across the US and Canada
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tetragnatha laboriosa Hentz, 1850
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Tetragnatha laboriosa. 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 Silver Longjawed Orbweaver (8)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by kschnei , pfeiffer , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Silver Longjawed Orbweaver
What is Silver Longjawed Orbweaver?
Silver Longjawed Orbweaver (Tetragnatha laboriosa) is a species in the family Tetragnathidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Silver Longjawed Orbweaver?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | Length 5.2-9.0 mm |
| Male | Length 3.8-7.4 mm |
How do you identify Silver Longjawed Orbweaver?
Not diagnostic, but can separate some species: Female Male
Where is Silver Longjawed Orbweaver found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Often found in fields, but lives in many habitats. |
| Range | All across the US and Canada |