Explanation of Names
The common name refers to the white dorsal stripe on the abdomen, which resembles a cravat worn by a parson or minister during the 1800's (Guarisco, 2007).
Size
Female 8-13mm, male 5.5-6.5mm - Howell and Jenkins, p. 274
(1)Identification
H. ecclesiasticus is basically identical in appearance to H. propinquus, and examination of reproductive organs is needed for positive identification.
Range
H. ecclesiasticus generally occur east of the Rocky Mountains, although range overlaps with H. propinquus in several states.
The localities listed below are from frassed images only and do not represent the full extent of this species range:
Omaha, Nebraska
Warren, Knox County, Maine
Herndon, Fairfax County, Virginia
Toronto, Southern, Ontario, Canada
Beverly Hills, Citrus County, Florida
Print References
Checklist of Kansas Ground Spiders
The Kansas School Naturalist, Vol. 55 Dec. 2007
by Hank Guarisco
Revision of the Spider Genera Herpyllus and Scotophaeus (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) in North America
Norman I. Platnick and Mohammad U. Shadab
Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History
Volume 159: Article 1
New York: 1977
Howell and Jenkins, p. 273-274
(1)