Teratembiid Web Spinner vs Ross's Web Spinner

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Teratembiid Web Spinner Ross's Web Spinner
Scientific Name Teratembia geniculata Chelicerca rubra
Order Embioptera Embioptera
Family Teratembiidae Chelicercidae
Size 6.0-9.0 mm 8.0-12.0 mm
Habitat Heathland Farmland
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions North America Africa
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Teratembiid Web Spinner

A small web spinner found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It has distinctively bent hind femora used for navigating silk tunnels.

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Did You Know?

The bent knees of this web spinner act as anchors allowing it to brace inside its silk tunnels when threatened.

Ross's Web Spinner

A reddish-brown web spinner found in tropical Africa that builds silk tunnels on tree bark. It is one of the more brightly colored embiopterans.

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Did You Know?

The reddish coloration of this web spinner is unusual in the order, as most species are drab brown or black.