Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2151739
Silver Long-jawed Orbweaver
Tetragnatha laboriosaAlso known as Silver Longjawed Orbweaver
Silver long-jawed orbweavers blend seamlessly into grassy environments by aligning their slender, metallic-sheened bodies parallel to plant stems with legs extended forward and back. At twilight, they spin delicate, nearly horizontal orb webs between stalks to snare ascending midges and agricultural pests. Mating occurs primarily under the cover of darkness, after which females deposit egg sacs in protected vegetation before the onset of winter.
Web-builderGrasslandNocturnal
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Leafhoppers
- Chironomid Midges
- Aphids
Predators
- Songbirds
- Mud Dauber Wasps
- Praying Mantises
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide spraying and loss of grassy field margins
HabitatsMeadows, grasslands, agricultural crop fields, and riparian edges
Life spanUp to 1 year
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyTetragnathidae
- GenusTetragnatha
- SpeciesTetragnatha laboriosa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to humans and pets; safe to observe at close range.
Responsible observation
- Locating Webs: Search grassy meadows in the early morning when dew reveals their nearly horizontal orb webs.
- Observing Camouflage: Approach slowly to watch them press flat against stems, extending their legs into a straight line.
Ecological Peer (c) M. Whitson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Iida Österman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Iida Österman · cc-by
Family Member (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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