Dictyna longispina

Dictyna longispina can be distinguished from congeners by its notably elongated spines, particularly on the legs and possibly the abdomen, which are referenced in its specific epithet. The species shows the general Dictyna body plan: small size (approximately 2–3 mm), compact carapace, and relatively short, stout legs compared to body length. Definitive identification requires examination of genitalia; males possess distinctive embolus and conductor structures, while females have characteristic epigynal morphology. Separation from the widespread Dictyna arundinacea and Dictyna uncinata requires microscopic examination of spine length and genitalic features.

Northeastern North America: recorded from Canada (Ontario, Quebec, and eastern provinces) and the United States (northeastern states). The species appears to have a boreal-nemoral distribution pattern consistent with other Emertonian Dictyna species.

Constructs irregular, tangled cribellate webs on vegetation, similar to other Dictyna species. The woolly cribellate silk effectively captures small flying insects without the use of sticky droplets. Webs are typically positioned on dead or living plant stems, grasses, and low shrubs.

Functions as a small generalist predator in herbaceous and shrub layer communities, contributing to regulation of tiny dipteran and hymenopteran populations. Its cribellate webs represent an evolutionary alternative to ecribellate orb-weaving and sheet-web strategies.

• Dictyna arundinaceaOverlapping distribution and habitat; D. arundinacea has shorter spines and differs in male palpal and female epigynal morphology.
• Dictyna uncinataSympatric in eastern North America; distinguished by uncinate (hooked) structures in male genitalia and shorter leg spines.

• spider
• cribellate
• North America
• Dictynidae
• Emerton
• 1888
• small web-builder
• boreal distribution

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match