Uloborus plumipes
This record describes Uloborus plumipes (species). Recorded family: Uloboridae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Males 3 to 4 mm, females 4 to 6 mm. Densely hairy, legs brown, annulated with white-bluish. Tibia I female: with strikingly long, black plumose hairs. Opisthosoma light brown with darker median line, densely haired, dorsally with 2 humps in anterior part, 2 white spots between them. At rest the spider resembles a small piece of dried vegetation. It spins a horizontal web up to 30cm across (smaller if space is restricted). Clear photos showing distinctive shape required. Heated greenhouses and garden centres. Believed to have been imported from The Netherlands on plants and able to survive in greenhouses where the winter temperature is maintained above freezing. In this habitat it appears to be playing an effective role in controlling whitefly. Females outnumber the slightly smaller males, which are cryptic and difficult to find. The egg-sacs, varying from dark brown to pale cream in colour, are characteristically star-shaped. http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Uloborus+plumipes No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae
- Family
- Uloboridae
- Genus
- Uloborus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Heated greenhouses and garden centres. Believed to have been imported from The Netherlands on plants and able to survive in greenhouses where the winter temperature is maintained above freezing. In this habitat it appears to be playing an effective role in controlling whitefly.
Seasonal Activity
Year round.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Females outnumber the slightly smaller males, which are cryptic and difficult to find. The egg-sacs, varying from dark brown to pale cream in colour, are characteristically star-shaped.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common in garden centres.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Uloborus plumipes. 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 Uloborus plumipes (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Uloborus plumipes
What is Uloborus plumipes?
Uloborus plumipes is a species in the family Uloboridae, within the order Araneae.
Where is Uloborus plumipes found?
Habitat: Heated greenhouses and garden centres. Believed to have been imported from The Netherlands on plants and able to survive in greenhouses where the winter temperature is maintained above freezing. In this habitat it appears to be playing an effective role in controlling whitefly.
When is Uloborus plumipes active?
Uloborus plumipes: seasonal activity - Year round..
What is the life cycle of a Uloborus plumipes?
Females outnumber the slightly smaller males, which are cryptic and difficult to find. The egg-sacs, varying from dark brown to pale cream in colour, are characteristically star-shaped.