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Agelenopsis

{{Short description|Genus of spiders}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| name = American grass spiders

| taxon = Agelenopsis

| image = Grass Spider - Agelenopsis species possibly pennsylvanica?, Vernon, British Columbia.jpg

| image_caption = Agelenopsis cf. pennsylvanica in Vernon, British Columbia

| image2 = Grass Spider - Agelenopsis , Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia.jpg

| image2_caption = Agelenopsis pennsylvanica in web, from Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia

| authority = Giebel, 1869

| type_species = A. potteri (Blackwall, 1846)

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision = 14, see text

}}

Agelenopsis, commonly known as the American grass spiders, is a genus of funnel weavers described by C.G. Giebel in 1869.{{cite journal| last=Giebel| first=C. G.| year=1869| title=Über einige Spinnen aus Illinois.| journal=Zeitschrift für die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften| pages=248–253| volume=33}} 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.

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.

File:Grass spiders coupling.jpg

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|2024|12}} it contains fourteen species:{{cite web| title=Gen. Agelenopsis Giebel, 1869| website=World Spider Catalog| access-date=2019-04-16| publisher=Natural History Museum Bern| url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/7}}

Gallery

Agelenidae male 17mm.jpg|Agelenopsis sp. male, 17 mm (about {{frac|3|4}} inch)

Agelenidae male palps 17mm.jpg|Same, showing elaborate pedipalps

Agelenidae male side.jpg|Same, from the side

Barronopsis female PEM.jpg|Agelenopsis sp. showing pronounced leg spines

Spider in corner.jpg|Agelenopsis in its web

Grass Spider on Long Island Maine Aug 2008.jpg|Agelenopsis in web built on grass, with prey

Grass Spider DGER.jpg|A. pennsylvanica female in web

PXL 20211007 221948186.jpg|Agelenopsis under a magnifying glass

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20050526143337/http://spiders.entomology.wisc.edu/Agelenidae/ Agelenidae species]
  • [http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=11510 Pictures of Agelenopsis sp.] (free for noncommercial use)
  • [http://www.cirrusimage.com/spider_funnel_weaver_Agelenopsis2.htm Diagnostic Photos and information, Agelenopsis sp.]
  • [http://nature.berkeley.edu/~callobius/cbcstuff/common_spiders/big_spi_quilt.html Common Spiders in California, Agelenopsis sp.]
  • {{cite book |first=Richard A. |last=Bradley |year=2012 |chapter=Grass Spider |page=14 |chapter-url=http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/pub5140.pdf#14 |title=Common Spiders of Ohio |publisher=Ohio Division of Wildlife}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2826535}}

Category:Spiders of the United States

Category:Spiders of Canada

Category:Agelenidae genera