Endangered Status
The widespread death of Fraser fir trees has destroyed many habitats for the spiders, and they were listed as endangered in 1995. Many Fraser firs have died due to infestation with Adelges piceae, the balsam wooly adelgid, an insect pest introduced from Europe. The resulting thinning of the forest canopy leads to the drying of the moss mats that are essential for the spider's survival, as it requires climates of high and constant humidity.
Read more about this topic: Spruce-fir Moss Spider
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