reticulated pirate spider

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

Reticulated pirate spider is a small to medium-sized, eight-eyed spider. It occurs across North America. Females are ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″ (4.2 to 5 mm) long. Males are slightly smaller, ⅛″ (3.5 mm) long.

The covering (carapace) of the front part of the body (cephalothorax) is longer than wide, has a low profile when viewed from the side, and is armed with long curved spines. It is pale yellow with black markings, including four black lines. The lines are wide, irregular, and have branches connecting them. They extend backward from the eyes and converge on a groove in the thorax.

There are eight eyes in two rows. The last part (cymbium) of the finger-like mouthpart (palp) has a spine at the tip but no other spines near the tip. The palp on the female has a claw.

The abdomen is high in front and yellow but mostly covered with black markings. It is armed with long straight spines.

The legs are very long and slender. The first pair is 1½ to 1⅓ times as long as the fourth pair. They are pale with black spots and bands, and are armed with long spines. The third segment (femur) is not dark near the tip. It has numerous black spots on the underside but does not have two distinct black lines. The fifth segment (tibia) and sixth segment (metatarsus) each have a rows of long, slightly curved spines with a row of much shorter spines between them.

Female Body Length: ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″
(4.2 to 5 mm)

Male Body Length: ⅛″ (3.5 mm)

Dry places; bushes, fences, and occasionally houses

April to July

Sources

24, 29, 30, 82.

Not known to occur in Minnesota.

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota