Identifying spiders

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedia's deletion policy.
Please share your thoughts on the matter at this article's entry on the Articles for deletion page.
Feel free to edit the article, but the article must not be blanked, and this notice must not be removed, until the discussion is closed. For more information, particularly on merging or moving the article during the discussion, read the guide to deletion.

Steps to list an article for deletion: 1. {{subst:afd}}   2. {{subst:afd2|pg=Identifying spiders|cat=|text=}} ~~~~ (categories)   3. {{subst:afd3|pg=Identifying spiders}} (add to top of list)   4. Please consider notifying the author(s) by placing {{subst:adw|Identifying spiders}} ~~~~ on their talk page(s).
This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (November 2007)
The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia.
Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(December 2007)

Identifying spiders has a variety of uses, such as the identification of venomous or aggressive spiders. Identification is done by studying the spider's traits like eyes, shape, length of legs, or spinnerets. Color is a useful identification criteria for some species. However, most spiders sport dull earth tone colors.

Size can also be used to identify spiders although this may not be enough. For example, heavily-built spiders over 25 mm (1 inch) are most likely from the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas). However, some Huntsman spiders can have 10-inch leg spans and might be mistaken for a tarantula if only this criterion is used. Body build can also be a false lead. Most terrestrial tarantulas are heavily built, like the Grammostola rosea shown below. However, some arboreal tarantulas like the Avicularia versicolor shown below can have a light build.

Arboreal body type: Avicularia versicolor

Terrestrial body type: Grammostola rosea

Behavior is a good criterion for studying spiders. Some hunting or living behaviors can be shared by only a specific group of spiders. Listed below are some descriptions that may narrow the identification of spiders to the family level. Note that identifying the genus or the species of the spider might require more specialized references other than this article.

Contents

[edit] Spider identification by living and hunting behavior

Camouflaged in full view on a flower or on bark. (Thomisidae)

Cave dwellers of pale colors. (Nesticidae)

Nesticus

'Covered by rocks or burrowing in sand. (Zodariidae)

Crouching on a sketchy web with strands of varying width under fallen tree trunks, rocks, etc. (less than ½ inch, 11 mm, in length). Amaurobiidae

Pimus sp.

Dangling in the midst of a tangled spider web snare, or in a nearby shelter. (Theridiidae) (The bite of one member of this group can produce serious problems. Check here.)

Dew-revealing spiders are tiny creatures on nearly invisible webs. (Hahniidae)

Cryphoeca silvicola, female

Hanging head down on vertical surfaces, waiting to jump over approaching prey, spreading silk while jumping. (Hersiliidae)

Callobius sp.

Hiding in a vertical silken tube from within which they capture prey. (Atypidae)

Cylinders in crevices with "trip wires" radiating from them shelter members of this genus. Filistatidae

Invading the webs of other spiders. (Mimetidae, some Theridiidae)

Jumping from twig to wall, always keeping its front eyes on you. (Salticidae)

Jumping Spider
Eris Species

Lurking at the small end of a funnel-shaped web. (Dipluridae, Agelenidae, Hexathelidae, Amaurobiidae, Tegenaria) (The bite of two members of this group can produce serious problems. Check here and, for a less troublesome biter, check here.)

Mimicking ants. (Micaria, Castianerra, some Salticidae, some Thomisidae)

Popping up in all sorts of unexpected place -- on walls, in automobiles, and running fast in long straight lines. (Sparassidae)

Running along the surface of the ground or a floor. (Lycosidae, Oxyopidae, Pisauridae, Dolomedes, Gnaphosidae, Senoculidae, Prodidomidae Homolonychidae, Zoropsidae, some Miturgidae, Corinnidae)

Sandwiched between dense, ropy layers of webbing under rocks or in crevices. (Urocteidae)

Semi-concealed in a diaphanous silken web of linked loops (a little like a plastic scrubber) in the twigs of plants and small crevices. They are quite small (no larger than 5 mm.l or .2 inch). Dictynidae

Shaking up and down rhythmically in an irregular web in a cellar or other such places. (Pholcidae)

Sheltered in a silken "pup tent" hidden in a rolled-up leaf. (Clubionidae, Anyphaenidae, Tengellidae, Zorocratidae, Miturgidae, Corinnidae, Liocranidae ) (The bite of one member of this group can produce serious problems. Check here.)

Sitting at the center of a flat spiral web or at the end of a signal line that leads to the web's center.(Araneidae, Uloboridae]])

Skimming over the surface of a pond or stream. (Pisauridae, some Lycosidae)

Skittering out from under stones, forest litter, etc. (Oonopidae, Caponiidae, Dysderidae, Plectreuridae)

Slanted orb web spiders. (Tetragnathidae)

Slinging silk in the form of cast nets or streams material cast from glands in the cephalothorax. (Hyptiotes, Dinopidae, Scytodidae)

Snare springing spiders. (Theridiosomatidae)

Spitting sticky liquid at prey. (Scytodidae)

Swimming down to an underwater habitat bell, or resting in such a diving bell. (Argyronetidae)

Tending a tiny diaphanous sheet web or dome. (Linyphiidae)

Under stones or emerging onto a dingy-looking funnel web, these old-world spiders are over ½ inch long, hairy, and often quite colorful. Eresidae

Up a cylindrical tube that sits like a cupola at the top of a tent-like silken roof, below which is a tangled silken snare. (Diguetidae)

Utilizing a patchy sheet web that look somewhat like crochet work or fungus. (Loxoceles) (The bite of one member of this group can produce serious problems. Check here.)

Wandering about in search of prey in subtropical and tropical areas. (Ctenidae, Acanthoctenidae) (The bite of members of one genus in this group can produce serious problems. Check here.)

Weaving irregular webs under stones and debris. (Palpimanidae)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] See also

Spiders by color

[edit] External links

[edit] References


v • d • e
Spiders
Arachnology
Taxonomy
Anatomy
Human
interaction
Webs
Category