Castianeira longipalpa, sometimeys referred to as the long-palped ant mimic sac spider is found along the Eastern United States as well as in the Pacific Northwest. Found in my house, put it outside unharmed. People with allergies should be more careful. Red spot ant mimic spiders are found in Canada and throughout the united states, especially on the east coast. They only bite if threatened and the venom they produce is not very deadly to humans. Though its body shape is quite different, its characteristic black body and red-marked back puts it at risk of being mistaken for a black widow spider. Just saw one of these hanging out next to a line of ants with its front legs in the air just like described. Castianeira crocata spiders have been sighted 10 times by contributing members. This appears to be another ant mimic spider, possibly in the genus Castianeira. We are not sure what kind of spider it is. Castianeira sp. 172K subscribers in the spiders community. That means it does not catch its prey with a web but instead wanders around, searching for its meal. The sac spiders of Canada and Alaska. A normal female red-spotted ant mimic spider grows to around half an inch (13 mm). Photo Credit is wrong on one of your pics. Please help me identify this spider . I went thru your rigamarole, which was very thorough indeed, but cant figure it out. This species is thought to be a generalized mimic of myrmecine or ponerine ants. The abdomen of the spider is always black with at least four lateral white or light gray stripes. Some species of Steatoda can bite and are mildly venomous. [8], As of April2019[update] it contains 127 species:[1], Last edited on 11 September 2022, at 16:04, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Castianeira&oldid=1109734171. Both rows are slightly procurved (curved toward the frontend of the spider). North America has over 3600 species of spiders out of which about 60 of them are found in Virginia. Castianeira Amoena Next up, we have the castianeira amoena. The cephalothorax (head area) can be black, brown or grayish, almost white. 2023 (Spider Identifications). The correct answer will be no. Photo: Sean McCann. Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information. Small, around 1/2, dark brown or black. Required fields are marked *. [9] Certain species found in Texas mimic fire ants to prey on them, while some species use Batesian mimicry, appearing like velvet ants to take advantage of their aposematism in order to deter predators. Birds and wasps hunt them. Its length is about 3/8. Some Castianeira species are thought to mimic velvet ants (Mutillidae), rather than ants. Note: Castianeira variata which occurs in a similar range in the Eastern United States. The correct answer will be no. from near the Soutwestern Research Station in Arizona. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. Castianeira descripta, more commonly know as the red-spotted ant mimic spider gets its common name from the similar look and behavior to ants. The bite will cause swelling, comparable to a bee sting. Despite their harmless nature, many people believe that these spiders are poisonous. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Your email address will not be published. Here is more information about them: https://usaspiders.com/castianeira-longipalpa-long-palped-ant-mimic-sac-spider/. These spiders also have a white, scaly appearance on their abdomen like ants. Very skittish. [8], Some species mimic specific groups of ants, while others only have generic body modifications to look more ant-like, such as an elongated body or a carapace pattern that creates the illusion of a third body segment. Awer nnert de villen Arten, di Dir fannt, vlicht di, di Iech am meeschten unzezien, besonnesch fir Informatioun oder einfach fir Prventioun, sinn di gfteg Spann. The velvet ant model and spider mimic where found within a few metres of another (one of the criteria for Batesian mimicry is that the model and mimic have to be found in the same place!) German arachnologist Eugen von Keyserling described this species for the first time in the year 1979. Castianeira is a genus of ant-like corinnid sac spiders first described by Eugen von Keyserling in 1879. The maximum upload file size: 15 MB. Related Article: Hobo Spider vs Grass Spider 6. 1724). Notify me of follow-up comments by email. There are currently 128 known speciesin the genus, so I will only be able to highlight a small number in this post. The spider species Castianeira crocata belongs to the genus Castianeira, in the family Corinnidae. Hi. Twenty-six species are native to North America, [6] and at least twice as many are native to Mexico and Central America. I just caught this spider in my bathroom after it scared the crap out of my daughter. Copyright 2022 USASpiders. A colony of spiders was discovered in a woman's ear after she walked into a hospital in China, complaining of pain and a constant buzzing sound. Please identify this spider found in Denver, Colorado. Photo: Sean McCann. They may be a little smaller than that. Some species, like the onefrom Singapore below, are a little more ant-shaped, but their morphology isnot as extremely modified as someother kinds of ant-mimicking spiders (like this onephotographed by Alex Wild). These spiders areoften found in close proximity to ants, which provides some support for the idea that they are in fact mimics. Spider - Castianeira - Gloster, Gloster Arboretum, Amite County, Mississippi, USA May 13, 2006 Size: body length 8.7 mm. second in terms of length is the pair in the front. Hoping it doesnt get any worse! Hi Nerraga, this is an ant mimicking spider of the genus Castianeira. If you are allergic to this strange spider, it will be best to stay away as they are quite an aggressive species and may bite if you get too close. Some mimic ant behavior as well, waving their front two legs as if they were antennae or bobbing their abdomen to look more ant-like. The reason for this behavior is not entirely clear yet. Spiders of the Eastern United States --according to comments here, on page 263 of this reference, the image labeled as Castianeira amoena is actually C. gertschi or trilineata. Milwaukee, WI. Hello Eva, this is an ant mimicking spider (Castianeira sp. Males and juveniles are often much smaller with body sizes between 3 mm to 6 mm. Found in north central Indiana under a porch. Dondale, C. D., & Redner, J. H. (1982). Everything else copyright 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted. Not much detail prevails regarding their web, though they Part 9. French arachnologist Nicholas Marcellus Hentz first described this species in 1847. Based on collected data, the geographic range for Castianeira includes 2 countries and 21 states in the United States. Your email address will not be published. Overview of Spider Species in the United States. Front legs mostly a silvery gray, forward facing. The sac spiders of Canada and Alaska. This is a red-spotted ant mimic spider, Castianeira descripta: https://usaspiders.com/castaniera-descripta-red-spotted-ant-mimic-spider/Its not a medically significant spider. These spiders are common and not an endangered species. And thanks for sending in the great picture. Of the several spiders found here only one, i.e. Many thanks! These are about a little over twice the size of a zebra spider. Its not a medically significant spider: https://usaspiders.com/castaniera-descripta-red-spotted-ant-mimic-spider/. Learn how your comment data is processed. Red mark on its rear, top, not underneath. Thanks. Part 9. Found this in my sink this morningwhat is it? the black widow is deemed as poisonous. As a hunter spider, the red-spotted ant mimic spider does not build a web to catch its prey. This small black spider with white stripes on the abdomen fell down into our kitchen sink in Tulsa, OK. Hello Mark, this is an ant mimicking sac spider, given your location, most likely Castianeira longipalpa: https://usaspiders.com/castianeira-longipalpa-long-palped-ant-mimic-sac-spider/Its not a medically significant spider. Hi Raven, this is an ant mimicking spider of the genus Castianeira. The eggs are placed inside a white circular silken sac, generally attached to rocks. The red-spotted ant mimic Spider often walks with both front legs raised when it moves. Castianeira is most often sighted indoors, and during the month of May. Based on collected data, the geographic range for Castianeira crocata includes 1 countries and 3 states in the United States. Even though the red-spotted ant mimic spider is a rather aggressive spider, it usually targets small insects or ants and not humans or pets. I live in Central Oregon. Castianeira longipalpa is often confused with its close relative. Their secretive nature, way of moving, and predatory nature make them common villains in folklore and popular media. It is believed that this behavior should help them get close to ants in order to prey on them. All things Arachnid: articles, photos, videos, and ID requests are welcome. The posterior eye row (the upper row, in the photo below) is slightly wider than the anterior (lower) row with all foureyes about the same size. Hello Eric, this is an ant mimicking spider of the genus Castianeira: https://usaspiders.com/castianeira-longipalpa-long-palped-ant-mimic-sac-spider/, Your email address will not be published. The Castianeira Descripta specimencan be easily confused with some black widow species as it is a hairless black spider with red markings on its back. Uniform leg color (dark), small fine hairs. Common names for the family Corinnidae include groundsac spiders (they used to be included in the sac spider family Clubionidae) and antmimic spiders. AntmimicsandGroundSacSpiders(Corinnidae), crocata/descripta(Castianeiracrocata/descripta). Overview of Spider Species in the United States. The photo below shows the relative size of Castianeira amoena on a human hand. Thanks so much for sharing ::::). They only use their silk producing abilities to wrap their eggs in protective egg sacs and to build a nest to place the egg sacs in. from Singapore. The following ID tips come from Reiskind, 1969. However, all spiders of the ant-mimicking spider genus Castianeira behave and move similar to ants. This is a red-spotted ant mimic spider (Castianeira descripta). If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Araneae: Clubionidae and Anyphaenidae (No. I looked through all kinds of websites to see if I can find this spider and I could not find not one picture of it. Despite its name, the long-palped ant mimic sac spider does not look much like an ant. Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information. Mine has tiny greenish barbs sticking up off the abdomen. It's easiest to separate them by the most similar pattern & color and then look at the ranges. We are always happy to receive more if you find some spiders in your area. 14. Black medium sized spider with a yellow rectangular mark on its back. However, it is more commonly seen on the East Coast. This is a red-spotted ant mimic spider (Castianeira descripta). Slightly over .5 inches. That will be the case in all spider species. Hello Sandy, this is some type of ant-mimicking spider of the genus Castianeira. Don't subscribeAllReplies to my comments Notify me of replies to my comment via e-mail. These small spidersare ratherelusive, but sobeautiful! Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. I couldnt resist adding it because it shows such a beautiful example of mimicry, and one thats much more specific than the examples above. The picture is the underside of the spider. Very skittish. nous utilisons les cookies afin de personnaliser le contenu et les publicits, de fournir des fonctionnalits pour les rseaux sociaux et analyser notre traffic. Keep "Replies to my comments" selected if you are submitting a spider ID request. Sure thing! An adult female can reach a body size of maximum 1/2 in (13 mm). ): https://usaspiders.com/?s=castianeiraTo determine the species, I would need to know the location where it was found. Can you identify? Gertsch 1942 C. arizonica name in doubt probably was something else. Features: Species belonging to this genus has eight eyes arranged in a Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes. In reality however, these spiders are extremely shy, and very fast runners when they are disturbed (as by humans!) After searching Google, we think we identified this spider as a Castianeira Descripta. References. [1], Spiders of this genus have eight eyes in two procurved rows, the upper row slightly wider than the lower row. Almost pincer-looking, or stout like a bulldogs jowls. The legs are completely translucent brown in juveniles. I believe the spiders I have seen have been about the size of a nickel, but I am not completely sure of the size as I try to stay far away from them! Here is a similar-looking specimen on bugguide: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1344064/bgimageIts most likely Castianeira longipalpa, given your location. Any idea what this is? There have been 10 confirmed sightings of Castianeira crocata, with the most recent sighting submitted on May 20, 2019 by Spider ID member audiomagnate. (1997). Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America. We are located in the panhandle of Florida, and I have no idea how the spider made it into the bathtub. Found in my bathroom this morning in Central Ohio. I was looking for it after that and it was hiding nearby just a foot from where I was sitting. Probably Castianeira longipalpa or C. variata: https://usaspiders.com/castianeira-longipalpa-long-palped-ant-mimic-sac-spider/. Even more dramatic is what I like to call the tiger-stripedCastianeirabelow. Once we've identified your spider, you will get an e-mail notification. In addition to the ant-like coloration, the abdomen has white scale-like setae. https://usaspiders.com/castaniera-descripta-red-spotted-ant-mimic-spider/, https://usaspiders.com/pisaurina-mira-nursery-web-spider/. Fun fact : These spiders are very fast and not often captured either literally or. red-spotted ant mimic spider (C. descripta), Enoplognatha Ovata Candy-Striped Spider, https://bugguide.net/node/view/1344064/bgimage, https://usaspiders.com/castianeira-longipalpa-long-palped-ant-mimic-sac-spider/. Is there an email I can send a photo to? These Ants mimic spiders like to prey on ants and small insects. It resembles the image of C. dorsata in BugGuide.net. Are Species of the Castianeira Genus Poisonous and Do They Bite They bite in a bid to defend themselves from danger, though their sting is not harmful. Photo: Sean McCann. In this case, harmless Castianeira spiders might benefit by looking like the much more dangerous velvet ants, and thus be avoided by predators (this is called Batesian mimicry ). Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, USA. circular, attached to rocks or stones nearby. If the spider bites, it is not dangerous for humans. nous utilisons les cookies afin de personnaliser le contenu et les publicits, de fournir des fonctionnalits pour les rseaux sociaux et analyser notre traffic. TIA! Hello Chris, thanks for getting in touch! Hi, I live in MN and have found several of these spiders inside. Castianeira spiders have been sighted 74 times by contributing members. However, their first instinct when approached by much larger humans or pets, their first instinct is generally to flee. Therefore, bites are relatively uncommon. Web. In this case, harmless Castianeiraspiders might benefit by looking like the much more dangerous velvet ants, and thus be avoided by predators(this is calledBatesian mimicry). [1] Description Is it a parson spider? Found in north central Indiana under a porch. The bite will cause swelling, comparable to a bee sting . Hello Chris, thanks for getting in touch. Nous partageons galement des informations sur votre usage de notre site avec nos rseaux sociaux, publicitaires et partenaires d'analyse, Castianeira Descripta Red-Spotted Ant Mimic Spider, on Castianeira Descripta Red-Spotted Ant Mimic Spider. Fortunately, black widows (Southern Black . References: Evans, A.V. Finally, the spider below is not aCastianeira, but a species in the related genus Graptartia (also in the subfamily Castianeirinae). Once we've identified your spider, you will get an e-mail notification. Is the Red Stripe Spider Venomous They only bite if threatened and the venom they produce is not very deadly to humans.
