Walckenaeria castanea
This record describes Walckenaeria castanea (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Pale brown to chestnut brown, sometimes rather darker anteriorly . The male has anteriorly a small lobe with large holes and sulci on its sides; the lobe carries the posterior median eyes. Palp: Epigynum: ventral/dorsal
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Linyphiidae (Sheetweb and Dwarf Spiders)
- Subfamily
- Erigoninae
- Genus
- Walckenaeria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"Habitats recorded are a sphagnum bog, a pine swamp, moss in a boggy area, woods, tall grass, a soil sample, and under snow in February."
Geographic Range
According to the American Arachnological Society--AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PQ, SK, YT; AK, CT, IL, MA, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, RI, UT, VT, WI, WY
Seasonal Activity
Adults likely can be found year-round.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: (Emerton, 1882)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Walckenaeria castanea. 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 Walckenaeria castanea (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Sloan; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Walckenaeria castanea
What is Walckenaeria castanea?
Walckenaeria castanea is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Walckenaeria castanea?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 2.45-3.0mm |
| Female | 2.6-3.9mm |
How do you identify Walckenaeria castanea?
Pale brown to chestnut brown, sometimes rather darker anteriorly . The male has anteriorly a small lobe with large holes and sulci on its sides; the lobe carries the posterior median eyes. Palp: Epigynum: ventral/dorsal
Where is Walckenaeria castanea found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Habitats recorded are a sphagnum bog, a pine swamp, moss in a boggy area, woods, tall grass, a soil sample, and under snow in February. |
| Range | According to the American Arachnological Society--AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PQ, SK, YT; AK, CT, IL, MA, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, RI, UT, VT, WI, WY |
When is Walckenaeria castanea active?
Walckenaeria castanea: seasonal activity - Adults likely can be found year-round..