Species Herpyllus ecclesiasticus - Eastern Parson Spider

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Print References · Works Cited

Unknown Spider. - Herpyllus ecclesiasticus

Pennsylvania Spider for ID - Herpyllus ecclesiasticus

Herpyllus ecclesiasticus? - Herpyllus ecclesiasticus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)

Class Arachnida (Arachnids)

Order Araneae (Spiders)

Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)

No Taxon (Entelegynae)

Family Gnaphosidae (Ground Spiders)

Genus Herpyllus

Species ecclesiasticus (Eastern Parson Spider)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

See the World Spider Catalog.

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.

Palp

Range

H. ecclesiasticus generally occurs east of the Rocky Mountains, although its range overlaps with H. propinquus in several states (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, western edge of Texas). Its range extends from southern Canada (AB, ON, QC) to northern Mexico.(2).

Print References

Checklist of Kansas Ground Spiders

The Kansas School Naturalist, Vol. 55 Dec. 2007

by Hank Guarisco

Howell and Jenkins, p. 273-274 (1)

Works Cited

1.	Spiders of the Eastern US, A Photographic Guide W. Mike Howell and Ronald L. Jenkins. 2004. pearson education.

2.	A revision of the spider genera Herpyllus and Scotophaeus (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) in North America Platnick and Shadab. 1977. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 1:20pm
Additional contributions by Jeff Hollenbeck, cheins, Chuck Entz, Ted Kropiewnicki, chuuuuung
Last updated 10 March, 2023 - 1:13pm

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