Trochosa sepulchralis
This record describes Trochosa sepulchralis (species). Recorded family: Lycosidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The edge of woods where it is often collected by hand or through the use of pitfall traps.
Geographic Range
Throughout the central southern region of the United States. It is found from Florida in the east to Texas in the west, and north to New York.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: "The specific name was derived from the word sepulcher, a burial vault, and is likely a reflection upon the location from which it was first described: Philadelphia’s Woodlands Cemetery, where many of Montgomery’s specimens of this species were collected."
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Trochosa sepulchralis. 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 Trochosa sepulchralis (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Laura P.