Walckenaeria communis
This record describes Walckenaeria communis (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Orange to deep reddish orange in female, darkened anteriorly, often to almost black. The male carapace is similarly colored, but the anterior darkening is much less pronounced or even absent . Recently molted specimens are paler in color, but the female carapace seems always to be darkened anteriorly. Palp Very similar in appearance to W. directa -- see literature (Emerton 1882, Kaston 1948, etc.).
Wikipedia reference for Walckenaeria communis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walckenaeria communis.
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 lake shore, wet grass, and moss in fir woods"
Geographic Range
According to the American Arachnological Society --AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PQ, SK, YT; AR, AK, CA, CO, CT, ID, IL, IN, MA, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, RI, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY
Seasonal Activity
Adults can be taken year-round.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Walckenaeria communis (Emerton, 1882)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Walckenaeria communis. 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 communis (2)
Photo credits: (c) Tom Murray, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tom Murray | Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by cheins , pfeiffer
Frequently Asked Questions About Walckenaeria communis
What is Walckenaeria communis?
Walckenaeria communis is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Walckenaeria communis?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 2.45-3.1mm |
| Female | 2.5-3.2mm |
How do you identify Walckenaeria communis?
Orange to deep reddish orange in female, darkened anteriorly, often to almost black. The male carapace is similarly colored, but the anterior darkening is much less pronounced or even absent . Recently molted specimens are paler in color, but the female carapace seems always to be darkened anteriorly. Palp
Where is Walckenaeria communis found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | habitats recorded are a lake shore, wet grass, and moss in fir woods |
| Range | According to the American Arachnological Society --AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PQ, SK, YT; AR, AK, CA, CO, CT, ID, IL, IN, MA, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, RI, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY |
When is Walckenaeria communis active?
Walckenaeria communis: seasonal activity - Adults can be taken year-round..