Bathyphantes brevipes
(Emerton, 1917)
Grey Sheetweb Weaver
Bathyphantes brevipes is a of sheetweb spider in the Linyphiidae, commonly known as the Grey Sheetweb Weaver. It is a small arachnid found across northern North America, with records from the United States and Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a member of the Linyphiidae family, it constructs flat sheet webs typically positioned close to the ground or substrate.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Bathyphantes brevipes: /ˌbæθɪˈfæntiːz ˈbrɛvɪˌpiːz/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Bathyphantes brevipes can be distinguished from other sheetweb spiders by examination of the male structure, which features an embolus (the appendage that enters the female ) and associated bulb and cymbium characteristic of the Bathyphantes. The name 'brevipes' (short-footed) may refer to relatively short leg proportions compared to , though specific diagnostic features require microscopic examination of genitalia. As an entelegyne spider, females possess a sclerotized epigynum with symmetrical openings that serves as a species-specific 'lock' matching the male pedipalp 'key'.
Distribution
Bathyphantes brevipes occurs in the United States and Canada. Canadian provincial records include Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. The has been documented in northern and western regions of North America.
Life Cycle
As a member of the Entelegynae, the most highly-evolved spider group, Bathyphantes brevipes exhibits complex genital . Males use modified as intromittent organs to transfer sperm to females. The male prepares by spinning a sperm web, extruding semen onto it, and sucking it into in each pedipalp. Females possess an with separate copulatory and ducts, and can store sperm from a single mating for their entire reproductive lives in spermathecae.
Similar Taxa
- Bathyphantes spp.Other in the same share the general body plan and web-building of sheetweb spiders, requiring examination of male or female structures for definitive identification.
- Other LinyphiidaeThe Linyphiidae contains many small, morphologically similar sheetweb spiders that can only be reliably distinguished through detailed examination of genitalia and other microscopic characters.
More Details
Taxonomic Authority
The was described by James Henry Emerton in 1917, a prominent early American arachnologist who documented many New England spider species.
Observation Records
As of the data cutoff, iNaturalist contained 8 observation records for this , indicating it is infrequently encountered or reported by citizen scientists relative to more conspicuous spiders.