| Cheiracanthium erraticum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Cheiracanthiidae |
| Genus: | Cheiracanthium |
| Species: | C. erraticum |
| Binomial name | |
| Cheiracanthium erraticum (Walckenaer, 1802) [1] | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Cheiracanthium erraticum, the two-clawed hunting spider, [2] is a species of Palearctic spider of the family Cheiracanthiidae. [1]
Females have a body length of 8–9 mm, males 5-6.5mm. [3] C. erraticum is a distinctively marked spider which shows a wide dark red stripe running down the centre of the abdomen, which is in turn surrounded by an area of creamy-yellow while the head is a reddish brown. [4]
The species has a Palearctic distribution, from Ireland to east Asia. [1] [3]
This species favours the herbaceous layer and low bush layer of open habitats, [3] such as rough heather. [5] In Britain the altitudinal range is from sea level to 700 m. [5]
In early summer C. erraticum builds a retreat made from two or three leaves or grass heads which are stitched together to hold the female and her egg sac. Later in the year, the immature spiders, which are already showing the reddish median stripe on the abdomen, can be found in small silk cells on plant stems. Adult males are encountered mostly in late spring and early summer while the adult females are mostly found from late spring to the autumn. [5]
The spider wasp Homonotus sanguinolentus is a rare species which is wholly dependent on Cheiracanthium spiders and in Britain is wholly dependent on C. erraticum. [6] The ichneumonid wasp Schizopyga podagrica is another parasitoid of C. erraticum. [7]
Latrodectus mactans, known as southern black widow or simply black widow, and the shoe-button spider, is a venomous species of spider in the genus Latrodectus. The females are well known for their distinctive black and red coloring and for the fact that they will occasionally eat their mate after reproduction. The species is native to North America. The venom is rarely fatal to healthy humans.
The hobo spider is a member of the genus of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders, but not to be confused with the Australian funnel-web spider. Individuals construct a funnel-shaped structure of silk sheeting and lie in wait at the small end of the funnel for prey insects to blunder onto their webs. Hobo spiders sometimes build their webs in or around human habitations. The hobo spider lays its eggs in September and they hatch during late spring. After the male hobo spider mates it dies.
Latrodectus is a broadly distributed genus of spiders with several species that, together, are referred to as true widows. This group is composed of those often loosely called black widow spiders, brown widow spiders, and similar spiders. However, such general "common names" are of limited use as the diversity of species is much greater. A member of the family Theridiidae, this genus contains 32 species, which include several North American "black widows". In addition to these in North America are also the red widow Latrodectus bishopi and the brown widow Latrodectus geometricus, which, in addition to North America, has a much wider geographic distribution. Elsewhere, others include the European black widow, the Australian redback black widow, several different species in Southern Africa that can be called Button spiders, and the South American black widow spiders. Species vary widely in size. In most cases, the females are dark-coloured, but some may have lighter bodies or even reddish. Many can have red, white or brown markings on the upper-side (dorsal) of the abdomen. Some can be readily identifiable by reddish markings on the central underside (ventral) abdomen, which are often hourglass-shaped.
Araneus alsine, the strawberry spider or orange wheelweaving spider, is a species of the orb-weaving spider family, Araneidae.
Micrommata virescens, common name green huntsman spider, is a species of huntsman spiders belonging to the family Sparassidae.
Zygoballus sexpunctatus is a species of jumping spider which occurs in the southeastern United States where it can be found in a variety of grassy habitats. Adult spiders measure between 3 and 4.5 mm in length. The cephalothorax and abdomen are bronze to black in color, with reddish brown or yellowish legs. The male has distinctive enlarged chelicerae and front femora. Like many jumping spiders, Z. sexpunctatus males exhibit ritualized courtship and agonistic behavior.
Attulus inexpectus is a species of spider from family Salticidae, found in from Europe to central Asia. It was previously misidentified as Attulus rupicola.
Homonotus sanguinolentus, the bloody spider-hunting wasp is a European species of Pompilid wasp.
Sphictostethus nitidus, the golden hunter wasp or red spider wasp, is a species of pepsid spider wasp endemic to New Zealand.
Tigrosa helluo is a species of spider belonging to the family Lycosidae, also known as wolf spiders. T. helluo was formerly known as Hogna helluo before differences between dorsal color patterns, habitat preferences, body structures, etc. were discovered. The species is native to the United States, Canada and Mexico. They can be found across the eastern half of the United States, primarily in the northeast and New England, and as far west as Nebraska and Kansas. T. helluo can be found in diverse habitats including woods, marshes, fields, and riparian areas. Typically, members of this species prefer to live in wetter areas as opposed to dry environments. Males tend to live for around a year and females will live for close to two years.
Trochosa terricola is known as the ground wolf spider, is a wolf spider which is common and widespread in western and central Europe. It has been recorded as prey for the pompilid wasp.
Trochosa spinipalpis is a specialised species of Palearctic, wolf spider which is restricted to bogs and other wetlands.
Xysticus cristatus, the common crab spider, is a European spider from the family Thomisidae.
Xysticus ulmi, the swamp crab spider, is a European crab spider of the family Thomisidae which prefers damp habitats. It was first described by the German zoologist Carl Wilhelm Hahn in 1831.
Phylloneta sisyphia, the mothercare spider, is a species of comb-footed spider from the genus Phylloneta.
Cryphoeca silvicola is a small species of dwarf sheet spider in the family Cybaeidae which has a Palearctic distribution. The generic name, Cryphoeca, means hidden and the specific name silvicola means "living in the woods".
Heliophanus cupreus, the copper sun jumper, is a species of jumping spider belonging to the family Salticidae.
Oxyopes heterophthalmus is a lynx spider from the family Oxyopidae, it is the type species of the genus Oxyopes and was described by Pierre André Latreille in 1804, it has a Palearctic distribution.
Tetragnatha montana, commonly known as the silver stretch spider, is a species of long-jawed orb weaver from the family Tetragnathidae that has a Palearctic distribution. It preys mostly on flies and mosquitoes. The name silver stretch spider refers to its shiny metallic colour and its habit of extending its legs into a stick like shape.
Ebrechtella tricuspidata is a species of crab spiders belonging to the family Thomisidae.