Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver
Walckenaeria spiralis
This record describes Walckenaeria spiralis (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Carapace | orange-brown to brown, often darkened anteriorly; male carapace not raised behind the eyes. |
| Abdomen | black. |
| Legs | orange to orange-brown. Epigynum |
Wikipedia reference for Walckenaeria spiralis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walckenaeria spiralis.
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
"in meadows, in tall grass and weeds, in sphagnum fen, on beach dunes, at the edge of woods, and by beating bushes"
Geographic Range
According to the American Arachnological Society --MB, ON, PQ, SK; AK, AL, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, TX, UT, WI, WY
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been found from March to November.
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 spiralis. 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 Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver (2)
Photo credits: (c) cheins1, all rights reserved, uploaded by cheins1 | Contributed by Chad Heins
Frequently Asked Questions About Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver
What is Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver?
Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver (Walckenaeria spiralis) is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 1.9-2.2mm |
| Female | 2.0-2.6mm |
How do you identify Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Carapace | orange-brown to brown, often darkened anteriorly; male carapace not raised behind the eyes. |
| Abdomen | black. |
| Legs | orange to orange-brown. Epigynum |
Where is Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | in meadows, in tall grass and weeds, in sphagnum fen, on beach dunes, at the edge of woods, and by beating bushes |
| Range | According to the American Arachnological Society --MB, ON, PQ, SK; AK, AL, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, TX, UT, WI, WY |
When is Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver active?
Spiraling Sheet-web Weaver: seasonal activity - Adults have been found from March to November..