Agelenopsis actuosa
Agelenopsis actuosa (actuosa = "active, agile") is a species of grass spider found in southwest Canada and the northwest United States.[1]
| Agelenopsis actuosa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Agelenidae |
| Genus: | Agelenopsis |
| Species: | A. actuosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Agelenopsis actuosa Gertsch & Ivie, 1936 | |
The species are rather similar to those of the genus Agelena, instead of Agelenopsis, mainly because of their paler coloring and the meeting of the two lines on the cephalothorax (near the abdomen), which are usually parallel in other species. Females also possess a considerably larger, almost swollen abdomen after their sixth molt. It grows up to 2.5 cm (0.98 in) including legspan in females, with males 1/4 smaller. It can detect movements in the wind and run for retreat before a larger threat even approaches. One way to lure the spider out is to tickle the inner end of the funnel with a grass bud.
References
- Whitman-Zai, J.; Francis, M.; Geick, M.; Cushing, P. (2015). "Revision and morphological phylogenetic analysis of the funnel web spider genus Agelenopsis (Araneae:Agelenidae)". Journal of Arachnology. 43: 1–25. doi:10.1636/K14-35.1. S2CID 86141703. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
Preston-Mafham, Ken (1998). Spiders: Compact Study Guide and Identifier. Angus Books. ISBN 978-1-904594-93-2.