Linyphiidae and Tetragnathidae

Linyphiidae and Tetragnathidae

Pityohyphantes costatus

Linyphiidae and Tetragnathidae are web-building spiders.

Linyphiidae include the sheetweb weavers and the dwarf spiders. This is a very large family of spiders; many species are very tiny and may go unnoticed. They capture prey in horizontal sheet webs. The hammock spiders (Pityohyphantes costatus) pictured below were photographed in late April at Great River Bluffs State Park, Minnesota. Several had taken up residence in the outhouses. Females of this species are 5 to 7 mm, males are 4.5 to 6 mm, and legspans are 14 to 18 mm. Eggs occur in summer and immatures or adults overwinter.


Mating probably	In outhouse	Male and female	Pityohyphantes costatus

Tetragnathidae are the long-jawed orb weavers. They make webs similar to Araneidae webs, although webs are often built at an angle instead of vertically. Tetragnatha, shown below, is a common genus with many species. All were in Minneapolis, MN. Females are 5 to 15 mm, males are 4 to 8 mm, and legspans are 25 to 55 mm. Eggs occur in summer and immatures overwinter.


Tetragnatha sp.	Found in house	A very pretty Tetragnatha sp.		Dorsal and ventral views (by river)

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