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Cheiracanthium

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).

Cheiracanthium Spider

Scientific Classification

Spider Belonging to this Genus

  • Yellow Sac (Cheiracanthium inclusum)
  • Cheiracanthium abbreviatum
  • Cheiracanthium aculeatum
  • Cheiracanthium aden
  • Cheiracanthium adjacens
  • Cheiracanthium africanum
  • Cheiracanthium aizwalense
  • Cheiracanthium aladanense
  • Cheiracanthium albidulum
  • Cheiracanthium algarvense
  • Cheiracanthium ambrense
  • Cheiracanthium ampijoroa
  • Cheiracanthium andranomay
  • Cheiracanthium angolense
  • Cheiracanthium angulitarse
  • Cheiracanthium anjozorobe
  • Cheiracanthium annulipes
  • Cheiracanthium antungense
  • Cheiracanthium apia
  • Cheiracanthium approximatum
  • Cheiracanthium ashleyi
  • Cheiracanthium auenati
  • Cheiracanthium auriculatum
  • Cheiracanthium bantaengi
  • Cheiracanthium barbarum
  • Cheiracanthium boendense
  • Cheiracanthium brevicalcaratum
  • Cheiracanthium brevidens
  • Cheiracanthium brevispinum
  • Cheiracanthium campestre
  • Cheiracanthium canariense
  • Cheiracanthium catindigae
  • Cheiracanthium caudatum
  • Cheiracanthium conflexum
  • Cheiracanthium conspersum
  • Cheiracanthium crucigerum
  • Cheiracanthium danieli
  • Cheiracanthium daquilium
  • Cheiracanthium debile
  • Cheiracanthium denisi
  • Cheiracanthium dippenaarae
  • Cheiracanthium echinulatum
  • Cheiracanthium effossum
  • Cheiracanthium elegans
  • Cheiracanthium equestre
  • Cheiracanthium erraticum
  • Cheiracanthium escaladae
  • Cheiracanthium eutittha
  • Cheiracanthium excavatum
  • Cheiracanthium exilipes
  • Cheiracanthium exquestitum
  • Cheiracanthium falcatum
  • Cheiracanthium falcis
  • Cheiracanthium festae
  • Cheiracanthium fibrosum
  • Cheiracanthium filiapophysium
  • Cheiracanthium fisheri
  • Cheiracanthium floresense
  • Cheiracanthium foordi
  • Cheiracanthium foulpointense
  • Cheiracanthium fujianense
  • Cheiracanthium fulvotestaceum
  • Cheiracanthium furax
  • Cheiracanthium furculatum
  • Cheiracanthium ghanaense
  • Cheiracanthium gobi
  • Cheiracanthium gracile
  • Cheiracanthium gratum
  • Cheiracanthium griswoldi
  • Cheiracanthium halophilum
  • Cheiracanthium haroniense
  • Cheiracanthium himalayense
  • Cheiracanthium hypocyrtum
  • Cheiracanthium ienisteai
  • Cheiracanthium ilicis
  • Cheiracanthium impressum
  • Cheiracanthium incertum
  • Cheiracanthium zhejiangense
  • Cheiracanthium incomptum
  • Cheiracanthium indicum
  • Cheiracanthium inflatum
  • Cheiracanthium inornatum
  • Cheiracanthium insigne
  • Cheiracanthium insulanum
  • Cheiracanthium insulare
  • Cheiracanthium insulare
  • Cheiracanthium isiacum
  • Cheiracanthium itakeum
  • Cheiracanthium jabalpurense
  • Cheiracanthium japonicum
  • Cheiracanthium jocquei
  • Cheiracanthium joculare
  • Cheiracanthium jorgeense
  • Cheiracanthium jovium
  • Cheiracanthium kabalense
  • Cheiracanthium kakamega
  • Cheiracanthium kakumense
  • Cheiracanthium kashmirense
  • Cheiracanthium kazachstanicum
  • Cheiracanthium kenyaense
  • Cheiracanthium kibonotense
  • Cheiracanthium klabati
  • Cheiracanthium knipperi
  • Cheiracanthium kupense
  • Cheiracanthium lanceolatum
  • Cheiracanthium lascivum
  • Cheiracanthium leucophaeum
  • Cheiracanthium ligawsolanum
  • Cheiracanthium liplikeum
  • Cheiracanthium liuyangense
  • Cheiracanthium lompobattangi
  • Cheiracanthium longimanum
  • Cheiracanthium longipes
  • Cheiracanthium longtailen
  • Cheiracanthium ludovici
  • Cheiracanthium lukiense
  • Cheiracanthium macedonicum
  • Cheiracanthium madagascarense
  • Cheiracanthium mahajanga
  • Cheiracanthium malkini
  • Cheiracanthium maraisi
  • Cheiracanthium margaritae
  • Cheiracanthium marplesi
  • Cheiracanthium mayombense
  • Cheiracanthium melanostomum
  • Cheiracanthium mertoni
  • Cheiracanthium mildei
  • Cheiracanthium minahassae
  • Cheiracanthium minshullae
  • Cheiracanthium molle
  • Cheiracanthium mondrainense
  • Cheiracanthium mongolicum
  • Cheiracanthium montanum
  • Cheiracanthium mordax
  • Cheiracanthium murinum
  • Cheiracanthium mysorense
  • Cheiracanthium nalsaroverense
  • Cheiracanthium nervosum
  • Cheiracanthium nickeli
  • Cheiracanthium ningmingense
  • Cheiracanthium occidentale
  • Cheiracanthium olliforme
  • Cheiracanthium oncognathum
  • Cheiracanthium pallidum
  • Cheiracanthium pauriense
  • Cheiracanthium pelasgicum
  • Cheiracanthium pennatum
  • Cheiracanthium pennuliferum
  • Cheiracanthium pennyi
  • Cheiracanthium peregrinum
  • Cheiracanthium pichoni
  • Cheiracanthium poonaense
  • Cheiracanthium potanini
  • Cheiracanthium punctipedellum
  • Cheiracanthium punctorium
  • Cheiracanthium punjabense
  • Cheiracanthium ransoni
  • Cheiracanthium rehobothense
  • Cheiracanthium rothi
  • Cheiracanthium rupicola
  • Cheiracanthium russellsmithi
  • Cheiracanthium rwandense
  • Cheiracanthium saccharanalis
  • Cheiracanthium sakoemicum
  • Cheiracanthium salsicola
  • Cheiracanthium sambii
  • Cheiracanthium sansibaricum
  • Cheiracanthium saraswatii
  • Cheiracanthium schenkeli
  • Cheiracanthium seidlitzi
  • Cheiracanthium seshii
  • Cheiracanthium shilabira
  • Cheiracanthium shiluvanense
  • Cheiracanthium sikkimense
  • Cheiracanthium silaceum
  • Cheiracanthium simaoense
  • Cheiracanthium simplex
  • Cheiracanthium siwi
  • Cheiracanthium solidum
  • Cheiracanthium soputani
  • Cheiracanthium spectabile
  • Cheiracanthium sphaericum
  • Cheiracanthium stratioticum
  • Cheiracanthium streblowi
  • Cheiracanthium striolatum
  • Cheiracanthium taegense
  • Cheiracanthium tagorei
  • Cheiracanthium taiwanicum
  • Cheiracanthium tanmoyi
  • Cheiracanthium tanzanense
  • Cheiracanthium taprobanense
  • Cheiracanthium tenue
  • Cheiracanthium tetragnathoide
  • Cheiracanthium torricellianum
  • Cheiracanthium torsivum
  • Cheiracanthium triviale
  • Cheiracanthium trivittatum
  • Cheiracanthium truncatum
  • Cheiracanthium turanicum
  • Cheiracanthium turiae
  • Cheiracanthium uncinatum
  • Cheiracanthium unicum
  • Cheiracanthium vankhedei
  • Cheiracanthium vansoni
  • Cheiracanthium verdense
  • Cheiracanthium virescens
  • Cheiracanthium vorax
  • Cheiracanthium warsai
  • Cheiracanthium wiehlei
  • Cheiracanthium wilma
  • Cheiracanthium zebrinum

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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.

Eggs

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.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings hatch the following spring and stay inside the silken sac till they develop the ability to find food for themselves independently.

The Web

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.

Are Spiders of the Cheiracanthium Genus Venomous

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)

Quick Facts

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

Did You Know

  • Cheiracanthium was described in 1839 by the German entomologist Carl Ludwig Koch.
  • This genus’ name comes from the Greek word “Cheir” and “Acanthium.” The former means hand, while the latter is a genus of plants with thorny stems.

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).

Cheiracanthium Spider

Spider Belonging to this Genus

  • Yellow Sac (Cheiracanthium inclusum)
  • Cheiracanthium abbreviatum
  • Cheiracanthium aculeatum
  • Cheiracanthium aden
  • Cheiracanthium adjacens
  • Cheiracanthium africanum
  • Cheiracanthium aizwalense
  • Cheiracanthium aladanense
  • Cheiracanthium albidulum
  • Cheiracanthium algarvense
  • Cheiracanthium ambrense
  • Cheiracanthium ampijoroa
  • Cheiracanthium andranomay
  • Cheiracanthium angolense
  • Cheiracanthium angulitarse
  • Cheiracanthium anjozorobe
  • Cheiracanthium annulipes
  • Cheiracanthium antungense
  • Cheiracanthium apia
  • Cheiracanthium approximatum
  • Cheiracanthium ashleyi
  • Cheiracanthium auenati
  • Cheiracanthium auriculatum
  • Cheiracanthium bantaengi
  • Cheiracanthium barbarum
  • Cheiracanthium boendense
  • Cheiracanthium brevicalcaratum
  • Cheiracanthium brevidens
  • Cheiracanthium brevispinum
  • Cheiracanthium campestre
  • Cheiracanthium canariense
  • Cheiracanthium catindigae
  • Cheiracanthium caudatum
  • Cheiracanthium conflexum
  • Cheiracanthium conspersum
  • Cheiracanthium crucigerum
  • Cheiracanthium danieli
  • Cheiracanthium daquilium
  • Cheiracanthium debile
  • Cheiracanthium denisi
  • Cheiracanthium dippenaarae
  • Cheiracanthium echinulatum
  • Cheiracanthium effossum
  • Cheiracanthium elegans
  • Cheiracanthium equestre
  • Cheiracanthium erraticum
  • Cheiracanthium escaladae
  • Cheiracanthium eutittha
  • Cheiracanthium excavatum
  • Cheiracanthium exilipes
  • Cheiracanthium exquestitum
  • Cheiracanthium falcatum
  • Cheiracanthium falcis
  • Cheiracanthium festae
  • Cheiracanthium fibrosum
  • Cheiracanthium filiapophysium
  • Cheiracanthium fisheri
  • Cheiracanthium floresense
  • Cheiracanthium foordi
  • Cheiracanthium foulpointense
  • Cheiracanthium fujianense
  • Cheiracanthium fulvotestaceum
  • Cheiracanthium furax
  • Cheiracanthium furculatum
  • Cheiracanthium ghanaense
  • Cheiracanthium gobi
  • Cheiracanthium gracile
  • Cheiracanthium gratum
  • Cheiracanthium griswoldi
  • Cheiracanthium halophilum
  • Cheiracanthium haroniense
  • Cheiracanthium himalayense
  • Cheiracanthium hypocyrtum
  • Cheiracanthium ienisteai
  • Cheiracanthium ilicis
  • Cheiracanthium impressum
  • Cheiracanthium incertum
  • Cheiracanthium zhejiangense
  • Cheiracanthium incomptum
  • Cheiracanthium indicum
  • Cheiracanthium inflatum
  • Cheiracanthium inornatum
  • Cheiracanthium insigne
  • Cheiracanthium insulanum
  • Cheiracanthium insulare
  • Cheiracanthium insulare
  • Cheiracanthium isiacum
  • Cheiracanthium itakeum
  • Cheiracanthium jabalpurense
  • Cheiracanthium japonicum
  • Cheiracanthium jocquei
  • Cheiracanthium joculare
  • Cheiracanthium jorgeense
  • Cheiracanthium jovium
  • Cheiracanthium kabalense
  • Cheiracanthium kakamega
  • Cheiracanthium kakumense
  • Cheiracanthium kashmirense
  • Cheiracanthium kazachstanicum
  • Cheiracanthium kenyaense
  • Cheiracanthium kibonotense
  • Cheiracanthium klabati
  • Cheiracanthium knipperi
  • Cheiracanthium kupense
  • Cheiracanthium lanceolatum
  • Cheiracanthium lascivum
  • Cheiracanthium leucophaeum
  • Cheiracanthium ligawsolanum
  • Cheiracanthium liplikeum
  • Cheiracanthium liuyangense
  • Cheiracanthium lompobattangi
  • Cheiracanthium longimanum
  • Cheiracanthium longipes
  • Cheiracanthium longtailen
  • Cheiracanthium ludovici
  • Cheiracanthium lukiense
  • Cheiracanthium macedonicum
  • Cheiracanthium madagascarense
  • Cheiracanthium mahajanga
  • Cheiracanthium malkini
  • Cheiracanthium maraisi
  • Cheiracanthium margaritae
  • Cheiracanthium marplesi
  • Cheiracanthium mayombense
  • Cheiracanthium melanostomum
  • Cheiracanthium mertoni
  • Cheiracanthium mildei
  • Cheiracanthium minahassae
  • Cheiracanthium minshullae
  • Cheiracanthium molle
  • Cheiracanthium mondrainense
  • Cheiracanthium mongolicum
  • Cheiracanthium montanum
  • Cheiracanthium mordax
  • Cheiracanthium murinum
  • Cheiracanthium mysorense
  • Cheiracanthium nalsaroverense
  • Cheiracanthium nervosum
  • Cheiracanthium nickeli
  • Cheiracanthium ningmingense
  • Cheiracanthium occidentale
  • Cheiracanthium olliforme
  • Cheiracanthium oncognathum
  • Cheiracanthium pallidum
  • Cheiracanthium pauriense
  • Cheiracanthium pelasgicum
  • Cheiracanthium pennatum
  • Cheiracanthium pennuliferum
  • Cheiracanthium pennyi
  • Cheiracanthium peregrinum
  • Cheiracanthium pichoni
  • Cheiracanthium poonaense
  • Cheiracanthium potanini
  • Cheiracanthium punctipedellum
  • Cheiracanthium punctorium
  • Cheiracanthium punjabense
  • Cheiracanthium ransoni
  • Cheiracanthium rehobothense
  • Cheiracanthium rothi
  • Cheiracanthium rupicola
  • Cheiracanthium russellsmithi
  • Cheiracanthium rwandense
  • Cheiracanthium saccharanalis
  • Cheiracanthium sakoemicum
  • Cheiracanthium salsicola
  • Cheiracanthium sambii
  • Cheiracanthium sansibaricum
  • Cheiracanthium saraswatii
  • Cheiracanthium schenkeli
  • Cheiracanthium seidlitzi
  • Cheiracanthium seshii
  • Cheiracanthium shilabira
  • Cheiracanthium shiluvanense
  • Cheiracanthium sikkimense
  • Cheiracanthium silaceum
  • Cheiracanthium simaoense
  • Cheiracanthium simplex
  • Cheiracanthium siwi
  • Cheiracanthium solidum
  • Cheiracanthium soputani
  • Cheiracanthium spectabile
  • Cheiracanthium sphaericum
  • Cheiracanthium stratioticum
  • Cheiracanthium streblowi
  • Cheiracanthium striolatum
  • Cheiracanthium taegense
  • Cheiracanthium tagorei
  • Cheiracanthium taiwanicum
  • Cheiracanthium tanmoyi
  • Cheiracanthium tanzanense
  • Cheiracanthium taprobanense
  • Cheiracanthium tenue
  • Cheiracanthium tetragnathoide
  • Cheiracanthium torricellianum
  • Cheiracanthium torsivum
  • Cheiracanthium triviale
  • Cheiracanthium trivittatum
  • Cheiracanthium truncatum
  • Cheiracanthium turanicum
  • Cheiracanthium turiae
  • Cheiracanthium uncinatum
  • Cheiracanthium unicum
  • Cheiracanthium vankhedei
  • Cheiracanthium vansoni
  • Cheiracanthium verdense
  • Cheiracanthium virescens
  • Cheiracanthium vorax
  • Cheiracanthium warsai
  • Cheiracanthium wiehlei
  • Cheiracanthium wilma
  • Cheiracanthium zebrinum

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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.

Eggs

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.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings hatch the following spring and stay inside the silken sac till they develop the ability to find food for themselves independently.

The Web

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.

Are Spiders of the Cheiracanthium Genus Venomous

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)

Quick Facts

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

Did You Know

  • Cheiracanthium was described in 1839 by the German entomologist Carl Ludwig Koch.
  • This genus’ name comes from the Greek word “Cheir” and “Acanthium.” The former means hand, while the latter is a genus of plants with thorny stems.

Image Credits: wongchunxing.com

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