Marx pirate spider
Trebacosa marxi
This record describes Trebacosa marxi (species). Recorded family: Lycosidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Trebacosa marxi is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.
Wikipedia reference for Trebacosa marxi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebacosa marxi.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Illinois and southern Ontario to Nova Scotia, south to Arkansas and Florida.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: (Stone, 1890)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Trebacosa marxi. 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 Marx pirate spider (6)
Photo credits: (c) Owen Ridgen, all rights reserved, uploaded by Owen Ridgen | (c) Harley 'Harles' Monteiro, all rights reserved, uploaded by Harley 'Harles' Monteiro | Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by Mandy Howe
Frequently Asked Questions About Marx pirate spider
What is Marx pirate spider?
Marx pirate spider (Trebacosa marxi) is a species in the family Lycosidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Marx pirate spider?
Body length of adults 5.4-8.75 millimeters.
Where is Marx pirate spider found?
Range: Illinois and southern Ontario to Nova Scotia, south to Arkansas and Florida.