Conservation of spiders

Endangered spruce-fir moss spider (photo: wikimedia commons)

The evolutionary success of spiders over the past 300 million years has resulted in enormous biodiversity and more than 40,000 species.  Even though spiders have evolved little since the Jurassic period, the field of spider research continues to be dynamic.  Many new species are discovered each year and result in furthering the understanding of this unique predator.  Spiders control insect populations, such as mosquitos, that can harm humans (Waldvogel & Apperson, 2008).  Very few species of spiders are threatened or endangered, yet conservation measures are important to ensure the biodiversity of spiders thrives (Hillyard, 1994).

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Endangered spider in North Carolina

Looking for the spruce-fir moss spider in North Carolina....