Micrathena
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Micrathena, known as spiny orbweavers, is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1833.[1][2] Micrathena contains more than a hundred species, most of them Neotropical woodland-dwelling species. The name is derived from the Greek "micro", meaning "small", and the goddess Athena.[3]
Species with extremely long spines evolved at least eight times in the genus Micrathena and likely function as anti-predator defenses.[4] Gasteracantha orb-weavers also have hardened abdomens with variously shaped spines, but they are not closely related to Micrathena within the orb-weaver family.[5]
These spiders are active during the daytime and build vertical orb webs. Unlike many other orb-weavers, members of Micrathena bite their prey before wrapping it. When laying eggs, females will place the egg sac on vegetation near the web.[1]
Species
since April 2019[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". the genus Micrathena contains 119 species:[6]
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In North America
Although the genus includes over a hundred species, only four are found in the United States and Canada.[7] Among those four species, female spined micrathena (Micrathena gracilis) have five pairs of conical tubercles, female M. mitrata have two short posterior pairs, and female arrow-shaped micrathena (M. sagittata) have three pairs.[1] Only two species are recorded from Canada, being M. sagittata, found primarily in the Pinery Provincial Park, and M. gracilis, which is more widespread.[1][8]
References
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