Castianeira

Discover the world of Castianeira spiders! These unique creatures are part of the corinnid sac spiders family. They call the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa their home. With 127 species recorded as of April 2019, there’s a lot to uncover about them.

Scientific Classification

Castianeira Spider

Spiders Belonging To This Genus

  • C. abuelita
  • C. adhartali
  • C. alata
  • C. alba
  • C. albivulvae
  • C. albomaculata
  • C. albopicta
  • C. alfa
  • C. alteranda
  • C. amiantis
  • C. amoena
  • C. antinorii
  • C. arcistriata
  • C. argentina
  • C. arnoldii
  • C. athena
  • C. atypica
  • C. azteca
  • C. badia
  • C. bartholini
  • C. bengalensis
  • C. bicolor
  • C. brevis
  • C. brunellii
  • C. buelowae
  • C. carvalhoi
  • C. cecchii
  • C. cincta
  • C. cingulata
  • C. claveroensis
  • C. chrysura
  • C. coquito
  • C. crocata
  • C. crucigera
  • C. cubana
  • C. cyclindracea
  • C. daoxianensis
  • C. delicatula
  • C. dentata
  • Red-spotted Ant Mimic (Castianeira descripta)
  • C. dorsata
  • C. drassodidoides
  • C. dubia
  • C. dugesi
  • C. flavimaculata
  • C. flavipatellata
  • C. flebilis
  • C. floridana
  • C. formosula
  • C. furva
  • C. fusconigra
  • C. gaucha
  • C. gaucha
  • C. gertschi
  • C. guapa
  • C. himalayensis
  • C. hongkong
  • C. indica
  • C. inquinata
  • C. insulicola
  • C. isophthalma
  • C. lachrymosa
  • C. leptopoda
  • C. littoralis
  • C. longipalpa
  • C. luctifera
  • C. luctuosa
  • C. luteipes
  • C. maculata
  • C. majungae
  • C. memnonia
  • C. mexicana
  • C. micaria
  • C. minensis
  • C. munieri
  • C. nanella
  • C. obscura
  • C. occidens
  • C. onerosa
  • C. patellaris
  • C. peregrina
  • C. phaeochroa
  • C. pictipes
  • C. plorans
  • C. polyacantha
  • C. pugnax
  • C. pulcherrima
  • C. quadrimaculata
  • C. quadritaeniata
  • C. quechua
  • C. rica
  • C. rothi
  • C. rubicunda
  • C. rugosa
  • C. russellsmithi
  • C. rutilans
  • C. salticina
  • C. scutata
  • C. setosa
  • C. sexmaculata
  • C. shaxianensis
  • C. similis
  • C. soyauxi
  • C. spinipalpis
  • C. stylifera
  • C. tenuiformis
  • C. tenuis
  • C. teres
  • C. thalia
  • C. thomensis
  • C. tinae
  • C. trifasciata
  • C. trilineata
  • C. trimac
  • C. truncata
  • valida
  • C. variata
  • C. venusta
  • C. venustula
  • C. virgulifera
  • C. vittatula
  • C. vulnerea
  • C. walsinghami
  • C. xanthomela
  • C. zembla
  • C. zetes
  • C. zionis

Castianeira Ant-Mimic

Physical Description & Identification

Adults

  • Size: Castianeira spiders are modest in size, typically ranging from 5mm to 10mm.

Castianeira Spider Size

  • Color: They are red or brown, similar to the color of ants. They also have a white, scaly appearance on their abdomen.
  • Other Characteristic Features: Species belonging to this genus have eight eyes arranged in a curved manner in rows of two. The longest leg is one at the rear end, while the second in terms of length is the pair in the front.

Eggs

The eggs remain in a silken sac, which is white and circular, attached to rocks or stones nearby.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings of many species of this genus have moved around independently since the beginning.

The Web

Not much detail prevails regarding their web, though they make silken sacs adjacent to their resting places.

Are Castianeira Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Castianeira spiders have venom, like most spiders. But it’s mostly used to subdue their prey.

Can Castianeira Spiders Bite?

Yes, Castianeira spiders can bite, but they usually do so when threatened. The bite is not typically harmful to humans and is similar to a bee sting in terms of pain.

Castianeira Female

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Castianeira Spider

Castianeira spiders serve as natural pest controllers, hunting small insects and ants, which forms the crux of their diet. Their predatory nature helps in managing the populations of these insects, thereby contributing to the ecological balance.

Natural Predator: Though adept at predation, Castianeira spiders have their own set of natural predators, including birds, lizards, and larger arachnids, which keep their numbers in check within the ecosystem.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: The dynamic between Castianeira spiders and their prey is one of cunning and agility, as these spiders often use their ant-like appearance to approach their prey unnoticed. In turn, their predators have adapted to spot these clever mimics.

Relationship with Humans: Humans rarely encounter Castianeira spiders, and when they do, the interaction is typically harmless. Their bite, while venomous, is not considered dangerous and can be compared to a bee sting in severity.

Castianeira Male

Quick Facts

Lifespan Approximately one year
Distribution Parts of Africa, Asia, and, America
HabitatParks, shrubs, woods
Diet Small insects, and ants

Did You Know

  • German arachnologist Eugen von Keyserling described this species for the first time in the year 1879.
  • Certain species of this group mimic certain types of ants, either in terms of their body structure, that is, or even behavior. This is their way of shielding themselves against predators.

Castianeira

In conclusion, the Castianeira spiders, with their ant-like appearance and beneficial predatory habits, play a subtle yet important role in maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems where they reside.

Discover the world of Castianeira spiders! These unique creatures are part of the corinnid sac spiders family. They call the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa their home. With 127 species recorded as of April 2019, there’s a lot to uncover about them.

Castianeira Spider

Spiders Belonging To This Genus

  • C. abuelita
  • C. adhartali
  • C. alata
  • C. alba
  • C. albivulvae
  • C. albomaculata
  • C. albopicta
  • C. alfa
  • C. alteranda
  • C. amiantis
  • C. amoena
  • C. antinorii
  • C. arcistriata
  • C. argentina
  • C. arnoldii
  • C. athena
  • C. atypica
  • C. azteca
  • C. badia
  • C. bartholini
  • C. bengalensis
  • C. bicolor
  • C. brevis
  • C. brunellii
  • C. buelowae
  • C. carvalhoi
  • C. cecchii
  • C. cincta
  • C. cingulata
  • C. claveroensis
  • C. chrysura
  • C. coquito
  • C. crocata
  • C. crucigera
  • C. cubana
  • C. cyclindracea
  • C. daoxianensis
  • C. delicatula
  • C. dentata
  • Red-spotted Ant Mimic (Castianeira descripta)
  • C. dorsata
  • C. drassodidoides
  • C. dubia
  • C. dugesi
  • C. flavimaculata
  • C. flavipatellata
  • C. flebilis
  • C. floridana
  • C. formosula
  • C. furva
  • C. fusconigra
  • C. gaucha
  • C. gaucha
  • C. gertschi
  • C. guapa
  • C. himalayensis
  • C. hongkong
  • C. indica
  • C. inquinata
  • C. insulicola
  • C. isophthalma
  • C. lachrymosa
  • C. leptopoda
  • C. littoralis
  • C. longipalpa
  • C. luctifera
  • C. luctuosa
  • C. luteipes
  • C. maculata
  • C. majungae
  • C. memnonia
  • C. mexicana
  • C. micaria
  • C. minensis
  • C. munieri
  • C. nanella
  • C. obscura
  • C. occidens
  • C. onerosa
  • C. patellaris
  • C. peregrina
  • C. phaeochroa
  • C. pictipes
  • C. plorans
  • C. polyacantha
  • C. pugnax
  • C. pulcherrima
  • C. quadrimaculata
  • C. quadritaeniata
  • C. quechua
  • C. rica
  • C. rothi
  • C. rubicunda
  • C. rugosa
  • C. russellsmithi
  • C. rutilans
  • C. salticina
  • C. scutata
  • C. setosa
  • C. sexmaculata
  • C. shaxianensis
  • C. similis
  • C. soyauxi
  • C. spinipalpis
  • C. stylifera
  • C. tenuiformis
  • C. tenuis
  • C. teres
  • C. thalia
  • C. thomensis
  • C. tinae
  • C. trifasciata
  • C. trilineata
  • C. trimac
  • C. truncata
  • valida
  • C. variata
  • C. venusta
  • C. venustula
  • C. virgulifera
  • C. vittatula
  • C. vulnerea
  • C. walsinghami
  • C. xanthomela
  • C. zembla
  • C. zetes
  • C. zionis

Castianeira Ant-Mimic

Physical Description & Identification

Adults

  • Size: Castianeira spiders are modest in size, typically ranging from 5mm to 10mm.

Castianeira Spider Size

  • Color: They are red or brown, similar to the color of ants. They also have a white, scaly appearance on their abdomen.
  • Other Characteristic Features: Species belonging to this genus have eight eyes arranged in a curved manner in rows of two. The longest leg is one at the rear end, while the second in terms of length is the pair in the front.

Eggs

The eggs remain in a silken sac, which is white and circular, attached to rocks or stones nearby.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings of many species of this genus have moved around independently since the beginning.

The Web

Not much detail prevails regarding their web, though they make silken sacs adjacent to their resting places.

Are Castianeira Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Castianeira spiders have venom, like most spiders. But it’s mostly used to subdue their prey.

Can Castianeira Spiders Bite?

Yes, Castianeira spiders can bite, but they usually do so when threatened. The bite is not typically harmful to humans and is similar to a bee sting in terms of pain.

Castianeira Female

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Castianeira Spider

Castianeira spiders serve as natural pest controllers, hunting small insects and ants, which forms the crux of their diet. Their predatory nature helps in managing the populations of these insects, thereby contributing to the ecological balance.

Natural Predator: Though adept at predation, Castianeira spiders have their own set of natural predators, including birds, lizards, and larger arachnids, which keep their numbers in check within the ecosystem.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: The dynamic between Castianeira spiders and their prey is one of cunning and agility, as these spiders often use their ant-like appearance to approach their prey unnoticed. In turn, their predators have adapted to spot these clever mimics.

Relationship with Humans: Humans rarely encounter Castianeira spiders, and when they do, the interaction is typically harmless. Their bite, while venomous, is not considered dangerous and can be compared to a bee sting in severity.

Castianeira Male

Quick Facts

Lifespan Approximately one year
Distribution Parts of Africa, Asia, and, America
HabitatParks, shrubs, woods
Diet Small insects, and ants

Did You Know

  • German arachnologist Eugen von Keyserling described this species for the first time in the year 1879.
  • Certain species of this group mimic certain types of ants, either in terms of their body structure, that is, or even behavior. This is their way of shielding themselves against predators.

Castianeira

In conclusion, the Castianeira spiders, with their ant-like appearance and beneficial predatory habits, play a subtle yet important role in maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems where they reside.