Agelenopsis

Agelenopsis, commonly known as the American grass spiders, is a genus of funnel weavers described by C.G. Giebel in 1869.[1] They weave sheet webs that have a funnel shelter on one edge. The web is not sticky, but these spiders make up for that by running very rapidly. The larger specimens (depending on species) can grow to about 19 mm in body length. They may be recognized by the arrangement of their eight eyes into three rows. The top row has two eyes, the middle row has four eyes, and the bottom row has two eyes (spaced wider than the ones on the top row). They have two prominent hind spinnerets, somewhat indistinct bands on their legs, and two dark bands running down either side of the cephalothorax.

American grass spiders
Agelenopsis cf. pennsylvanica in Vernon, British Columbia
Agelenopsis pennsylvanica in web, from Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Agelenidae
Genus: Agelenopsis
Giebel, 1869
Type species
A. potteri (Blackwall, 1846)
Species

14, see text

Name

The genus name is a combination of Agelena (Eurasian grass spiders), a genus of similar spiders, and Greek -opsis "to look like". They are harmless spiders. Although most spiders use their webs to catch prey, the grass spider's web lacks adhesive ability. The spiders make up for that with their fast running.

Grass spiders coupling in funnel web
Grass spiders coupling in funnel web

The main distinction between Agelenopsis and the related European genus Agelena consists of the pattern appearing on the cephalothorax; the former possesses two quasiparallel lines from the eyes to the beginning of the abdomen. The latter genus has curved, irregular lines that often meet at the end. Another difference is the length of the front legs row in females, but in males, the similarities are not as in line.

Species

As of April 2019 it contains fourteen species:[2]

  • Agelenopsis sp. male, 17 mm (about 3⁄4 inch)
    Agelenopsis sp. male, 17 mm (about 3⁄4 inch)
  • Same, showing elaborate pedipalps
    Same, showing elaborate pedipalps
  • Same, from the side
    Same, from the side
  • Agelenopsis sp. showing pronounced leg spines
    Agelenopsis sp. showing pronounced leg spines
  • Agelenopsis in its web
    Agelenopsis in its web
  • Agelenopsis in web built on grass, with prey
    Agelenopsis in web built on grass, with prey
  • A. pennsylvanica female in web
    A. pennsylvanica female in web
  • Agelenopsis under a magnifying glass
    Agelenopsis under a magnifying glass

See also

References
  1. Giebel, C. G. (1869). "Über einige Spinnen aus Illinois". Zeitschrift für die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften. 33: 248–253.
  2. "Gen. Agelenopsis Giebel, 1869". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
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