Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Chiracanthium is considered by the
World Spider Catalog as "an unjustified emendation."
Formerly classified in the Clubionidae
Explanation of Names
From Greek, meaning "hand spinelet", referring to the backwardly directed process on the cymbium of the male palp.
(1)Identification
"Cheiracanthium are distinguished from the closely related species of Clubiona by lacking a conspicuous dorsal groove in the midline of the carapace, the lack of a cluster of long curved erect setae at the anterior end of the abdomen, by having the first pair of legs the longest, and by having a long, pointed spur extending back from the cymbium over the tibia. Species of Cheiracanthium are also chracterised by having relatively thinner legs and more robust bodies than Clubiona." From article by Jørgen Lissner seen
here.
Also there is a hair tuft on the front end of the abdomen in most Clubiona.
Cheiracanthium sp. do not have the long, forward-pointing curved setae on the anterior end of the abdomen. Reference: Dondale and Redner, "The Sac Spiders of Canada and Alaska" (1982), page 17.
Range
C. inclusum is indigenous to much of the United States (except the northernmost states), while C. mildei, an introduced species from Europe, was found throughout much of the Northeast as of 1978. It is likely that C. mildei has substantially increased its range since that time. (1)
Remarks
Being Bitten:
Some species are thought to be slightly dangerous. However, this may not be true. See articles:
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www.ajtmh.org - VERIFIED BITES BY YELLOW SAC SPIDERS (GENUS CHEIRACANTHIUM) IN THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA: WHERE IS THE NECROSIS?
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www.jabfm.org - Spider Myths and a Case of a Bite by a Yellow Sac Spider
