Walckenaeria digitata
This record describes Walckenaeria digitata (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Carapace | brown, with dusky markings and margins. |
| Abdomen | uniformly black in the male, grey suffused with black posteriorly around the spinnerets in the female. Voucher male habitus, pedipalp: |
Wikipedia reference for Walckenaeria digitata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walckenaeria digitata.
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
Geographic Range
According to the American Arachnological Society --AB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PQ, SK; IL, NH, NJ, NY
Seasonal Activity
Adult males have been collected in June, adult females in July.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Walckenaeria digitata. 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 digitata (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mandy Howe; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Walckenaeria digitata
What is Walckenaeria digitata?
Walckenaeria digitata is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Walckenaeria digitata?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 1.80mm |
| Female | 2.40-2.80mm |
How do you identify Walckenaeria digitata?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Carapace | brown, with dusky markings and margins. |
| Abdomen | uniformly black in the male, grey suffused with black posteriorly around the spinnerets in the female. Voucher male habitus, pedipalp: |
Where is Walckenaeria digitata found?
Range: According to the American Arachnological Society --AB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PQ, SK; IL, NH, NJ, NY
When is Walckenaeria digitata active?
Walckenaeria digitata: seasonal activity - Adult males have been collected in June, adult females in July..