This spider has females that guard the egg sac.
The described male has a dusky yellow-to-brown carapace.
Selenops insularis has tufts of hairs surrounding the claws at the ends of all eight legs. Both described sexes have these tufts, as well as dense patches of finer hairs on parts of their legs. Small structures at the feet add to the spider’s visible features.
A study published in 2010 compared genetic material from 140 specimens representing 33 localities. In its gene tree, individuals of this species did not consistently cluster according to the island where they were collected. Another species studied in the same region showed clearer island-related groupings, revealing contrasting patterns among Caribbean spiders.
The authors suggested that relatively recent range expansion or movement with human cargo might have contributed to this mixed pattern. By comparing island boundaries with genetic differences, the study explored historical connections among spiders from separate places.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The 2011 revision described this spider as common and widespread and illustrated a record from Laguna Kiani on Vieques. The island’s wildlife refuge manages invasive plants and animals and works to prevent and fight severe fires. Alongside regional forest conservation, examining habitats and present occurrence on individual islands could help inform conservation of this species.