Cheiracanthium, also known as yellow sac spiders is the largest genus of its family (Cheiracanthiidae), made up of 200 species, mostly distributed across the Old World. The only spiders present in the New World include the northern yellow sac spider (C. mildei) and the black-footed yellow sac spider (C. inclusum).
Size: Both the sexes are approximately 0.20-0.39 inches (0.5-0.99 cm) long. The males are smaller and more slender than females with a longer leg span.
Color: Most spiders of this genus are characterized by a pale body and yellow or beige abdomen with patches of green. Their fangs and leg-tips appear brown.
Other Characteristic Features: The cymbium of male spiders is directed backward. The tarsi are also not outward, neither are they pointed inwards.
The female spiders produce about five egg sacs in one go, with 30 – 48 eggs in each of them. The eggs laid in autumn are covered in a silken sac.
The spiderlings hatch the following spring and stay inside the silken sac till they develop the ability to find food for themselves independently.
They do not build webs but construct a sac or silken tube within a leaf, woodpiles, or any protected area to take shelter during the day.
They are mildly venomous with some species like C. japonicum, C. inclusum, C. punctorium, and C. mildei, inflicting painful bites that can result in swelling or even lesions in extreme cases. However, there is a lot of dispute regarding the severity of their venom.
The results of a study conducted in Australia and the United States deduced that the bites of these spiders did not result in necrosis (death of body tissues)
| Other Names | Yellow sac spiders |
| Distribution | Old World: Northern Europe, southern Africa, Australia, India, Japan New World: Argentina, British Columbia, Canada |
| Habitat | Cotton field, backyard, unused houses and garages |
| Diet | Spiders and other small insects |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years |
Image Credits: wongchunxing.com
Cheiracanthium, also known as yellow sac spiders is the largest genus of its family (Cheiracanthiidae), made up of 200 species, mostly distributed across the Old World. The only spiders present in the New World include the northern yellow sac spider (C. mildei) and the black-footed yellow sac spider (C. inclusum).
Size: Both the sexes are approximately 0.20-0.39 inches (0.5-0.99 cm) long. The males are smaller and more slender than females with a longer leg span.
Color: Most spiders of this genus are characterized by a pale body and yellow or beige abdomen with patches of green. Their fangs and leg-tips appear brown.
Other Characteristic Features: The cymbium of male spiders is directed backward. The tarsi are also not outward, neither are they pointed inwards.
The female spiders produce about five egg sacs in one go, with 30 – 48 eggs in each of them. The eggs laid in autumn are covered in a silken sac.
The spiderlings hatch the following spring and stay inside the silken sac till they develop the ability to find food for themselves independently.
They do not build webs but construct a sac or silken tube within a leaf, woodpiles, or any protected area to take shelter during the day.
They are mildly venomous with some species like C. japonicum, C. inclusum, C. punctorium, and C. mildei, inflicting painful bites that can result in swelling or even lesions in extreme cases. However, there is a lot of dispute regarding the severity of their venom.
The results of a study conducted in Australia and the United States deduced that the bites of these spiders did not result in necrosis (death of body tissues)
| Other Names | Yellow sac spiders |
| Distribution | Old World: Northern Europe, southern Africa, Australia, India, Japan New World: Argentina, British Columbia, Canada |
| Habitat | Cotton field, backyard, unused houses and garages |
| Diet | Spiders and other small insects |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years |
Image Credits: wongchunxing.com
