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.
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
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.
Speciesedit
As of April 2019[update] it contains fourteen species:[2]
Agelenopsis actuosa (Gertsch & Ivie, 1936) – common American grass spider - USA, Canada
^Giebel, C. G. (1869). "Über einige Spinnen aus Illinois". Zeitschrift für die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften. 33: 248–253.
^"Gen. Agelenopsis Giebel, 1869". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
External linksedit
Pictures of Agelenopsis sp. (free for noncommercial use)
Diagnostic Photos and information, Agelenopsis sp.
Common Spiders in California, Agelenopsis sp.
Bradley, Richard A. (2012). "Grass Spider" (PDF). Common Spiders of Ohio. Ohio Division of Wildlife. p. 14.
January 01, 1970
agelenopsis, commonly, known, american, grass, spiders, genus, funnel, weavers, described, giebel, 1869, they, weave, sheet, webs, that, have, funnel, shelter, edge, sticky, these, spiders, make, that, running, very, rapidly, larger, specimens, depending, spec. 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 Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Chelicerata Class Arachnida Order Araneae Infraorder Araneomorphae Family Agelenidae Genus AgelenopsisGiebel 1869 Type species A potteri Blackwall 1846 Species 14 see text Contents 1 Name 2 Species 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksName editThe 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 nbsp 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 editAs of April 2019 update it contains fourteen species 2 Agelenopsis actuosa Gertsch amp Ivie 1936 common American grass spider USA Canada Agelenopsis aleenae Chamberlin amp Ivie 1935 USA Agelenopsis aperta Gertsch 1934 desert grass spider USA Mexico Agelenopsis emertoni Chamberlin amp Ivie 1935 USA Agelenopsis kastoni Chamberlin amp Ivie 1941 USA Agelenopsis longistyla Banks 1901 USA Agelenopsis naevia Walckenaer 1841 USA Canada Agelenopsis oklahoma Gertsch 1936 USA Canada Agelenopsis oregonensis Chamberlin amp Ivie 1935 USA Canada Agelenopsis pennsylvanica C L Koch 1843 USA Canada Agelenopsis potteri Blackwall 1846 North America Introduced to Ukraine Russia Europe Far East Kyrgyzstan Agelenopsis riechertae Bosco amp Chuang 2018 USA Agelenopsis spatula Chamberlin amp Ivie 1935 USA Agelenopsis utahana Chamberlin amp Ivie 1933 USA CanadaGallery edit nbsp Agelenopsis sp male 17 mm about 3 4 inch nbsp Same showing elaborate pedipalps nbsp Same from the side nbsp Agelenopsis sp showing pronounced leg spines nbsp Agelenopsis in its web nbsp Agelenopsis in web built on grass with prey nbsp A pennsylvanica female in web nbsp Agelenopsis under a magnifying glassSee also editFunnel web spiderReferences edit Giebel C G 1869 Uber einige Spinnen aus Illinois Zeitschrift fur die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften 33 248 253 Gen Agelenopsis Giebel 1869 World Spider Catalog Natural History Museum Bern Retrieved 2019 04 16 External links editAgelenidae species Pictures of Agelenopsis sp free for noncommercial use Diagnostic Photos and information Agelenopsis sp Common Spiders in California Agelenopsis sp Bradley Richard A 2012 Grass Spider PDF Common Spiders of Ohio Ohio Division of Wildlife p 14 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agelenopsis amp oldid 1181609869, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
