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Agelenopsis aperta AGELENIDAE Description Both the female and male Grass Spiders measure 10-19mm in length, and have similar color patterns. The carapace has a central light medial stripe that is bordered by a pair of dark stripes. The abdomen is gray on the sides with a darker median stripe; this stripe is bordered by thin white stripes that may be broken posteriorly. Spinnerets are long, and the terminal segment is much longer than basal segment. Range and Habitat Grass Spiders occur from Texas to California and Baja California. In San Diego County it occurs in many habitats west of the mountains. It is common in overgrown open areas, gardens, and woodlands. Natural History This is our largest agelenid, producing large funnel webs with outer sheet as wide as half a meter. Related and Similar Species There are species with similar color pattern but the size and spinneret morphology are distinctive. References Chamberlin, R.V., and W. Ivie. 1941. North American Agelenidae of the genera Agelenopsis, Calilena, Ritalena and Tortolena. Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 34(2):585-628. | |
