Walckenaeria tibialis
This record describes Walckenaeria tibialis (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Carapace | deep chestnut brown. The male has a stout horn anteriorly; the length of the horn is somewhat variable. There is a clump of stout spatulate hairs between the base of the horn and the posterior eyes . Lines of minute pits radiating from the fovea are sometimes visible in the male. |
| Abdomen | black. |
| Legs | orange to deep brown. Palp |
Wikipedia reference for Walckenaeria tibialis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walckenaeria tibialis.
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 in a cornfield, at the edge of moist woods and under a rock."
Geographic Range
According to the American Arachnological Society --MB, ON, PQ; MA, MI, NY, OH but there is a record from MN here on BugGuide.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Walckenaeria tibialis. 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 tibialis (2)
Photo credits: (c) cheins1, all rights reserved, uploaded by cheins1 | Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Walckenaeria tibialis
What is Walckenaeria tibialis?
Walckenaeria tibialis is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Walckenaeria tibialis?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 1.8-1.9mm |
| Female | 1.9mm |
How do you identify Walckenaeria tibialis?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Carapace | deep chestnut brown. The male has a stout horn anteriorly; the length of the horn is somewhat variable. There is a clump of stout spatulate hairs between the base of the horn and the posterior eyes . Lines of minute pits radiating from the fovea are sometimes visible in the male. |
| Abdomen | black. |
| Legs | orange to deep brown. Palp |
Where is Walckenaeria tibialis found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Habitats recorded are in a cornfield, at the edge of moist woods and under a rock. |
| Range | According to the American Arachnological Society --MB, ON, PQ; MA, MI, NY, OH but there is a record from MN here on BugGuide. |