Zelotes latreillei
This record describes Zelotes latreillei (species). Recorded family: Gnaphosidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae
- Family
- Gnaphosidae
- Genus
- Zelotes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Zelotes latreillei appears, in general, to be a lowland species. It is often found under stones, wooden debris, etc., but it is also found when grubbing in short vegetation. There seems to be a preference for open areas such as chalk downland and heaths. On sunny days the spider is occasionally seen running over the ground.
Seasonal Activity
Adults of both sexes are found from late spring to autumn, with peaks in late spring/early summer and late summer/early autumn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is widespread in the southern half of Britain, becoming very scattered and patchy in the north as far as central Scotland.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Zelotes latreillei. 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.
