Herpyllus belongs to the seventh-largest family of spiders, the ground spiders. According to the May 2019 records, this genus has 33 species, 13 of which occupy different parts of North America. The remaining species are scattered through South America and the Central and South Asian countries of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.
Size: Females are around 0.51 inches (1.2 cm), while males are smaller.
Color: Most spiders of this genus have a black or brown body.
Other Characteristic Features: Some species like the Eastern parson spider have markings on their abdomen.
Eggs are laid in a round and silky white sac deposited under barks and logs.
Most of the spiderlings have a pale brown body, closely similar in appearance to adult spiders.
Like other ground spiders, those belonging to this genus also do not spin a web. Instead, they take shelter under debris and rocks.
They may bite if trapped between one’s clothing and skin, which may trigger allergic reactions. However, their venom is not known to produce any lethal or harmful effect on humans.
| Distribution | USA, Mexico, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Argentina, Korea, and India |
| Habitat | Deciduous forests and gardens |
| Diet | Small insects |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years |
Image Credits: inaturalist.org
Herpyllus belongs to the seventh-largest family of spiders, the ground spiders. According to the May 2019 records, this genus has 33 species, 13 of which occupy different parts of North America. The remaining species are scattered through South America and the Central and South Asian countries of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.
Size: Females are around 0.51 inches (1.2 cm), while males are smaller.
Color: Most spiders of this genus have a black or brown body.
Other Characteristic Features: Some species like the Eastern parson spider have markings on their abdomen.
Eggs are laid in a round and silky white sac deposited under barks and logs.
Most of the spiderlings have a pale brown body, closely similar in appearance to adult spiders.
Like other ground spiders, those belonging to this genus also do not spin a web. Instead, they take shelter under debris and rocks.
They may bite if trapped between one’s clothing and skin, which may trigger allergic reactions. However, their venom is not known to produce any lethal or harmful effect on humans.
| Distribution | USA, Mexico, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Argentina, Korea, and India |
| Habitat | Deciduous forests and gardens |
| Diet | Small insects |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years |
Image Credits: inaturalist.org
Sahana Kanjilal on September 11, 2019.
Dr. Watuwa James
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