Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes


Can a wood louse spider be dark all over?

I live in Howell, MI, USA and I caught a spider in my apartment last night and am trying to identify it. I'm a little perplexed. It's body design is telling me it's a wood louse spider; however all the pics I've found on the net are light colored or very red.

It is very dark (almost black) all over approximately 1/4" long. The abdomen (large, elongated at least twice as long as it's carapace) does have a bit of velvety sheen to it with a few faint markings that seem beige in color and the spinnerets are quite visible. The legs seem a bit short for the body size. (in my opinion anyway) Which to me would rule out a funnel weaver/grass spider or a parsons spider.

I did notice this morning that it's dark legs do have a hint of burgundy. She (I believe) also made a bit of a sheet web in the large container I have her in.

I usually let spiders roam free in my home but I wasn't sure about this one.

I'd appreciate any help in the proper ID of this arachnid. (unfortunately all of my field guides are somewhere in storage and I'm a bit lost without them.)

PS
Thanks for your website, it's a great resource!

velvety spider
your description makes me think it's a ground sac spider. Compare with Creugas and Trachelas. What do you think?

 
Sac spider
Thanks Lynette! It more closely resembled the Creugas except it had much more prominent spinnerets; however, I found a picture of one under the heading: Entelegynes ยป Sac Spiders (Clubionidae)thanks to you I feel that can make a more accurate id.

P.S. I regret my decision to let it go outside on the window sill.... We found her the next morning shriveled on the sill... I think she made a meal for another arachnid. :(

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.