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Agelenopsis actuosa

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Achung818 (talk | contribs) at 03:59, 24 September 2021 ((1) Range was incorrect based on specimen maps in the Whitman-Zai paper. (2) Photo in the box was from Ontario, Canada (out of range) (3) I have not seen any evidence that "common American grass spider" is an accepted common name for this species. (4) As I have not been able to find any photos of confirmed A. actuosa, I do not see how the comments on its appearance are supported.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Agelenopsis actuosa
Scientific classification Edit this 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

Agelenopsis actuosa (actuosa = "active, agile") is a species of grass spider found in southwest Canada and the northwest United States.[1]

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)[citation needed], 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

  1. ^ 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. Retrieved 2021-09-23.

Preston-Mafham, Ken (1998). Spiders: Compact Study Guide and Identifier. Angus Books. ISBN 978-1-904594-93-2.