Home / Corinnidae Spiders / Red-spotted Ant Mimic(Castianeira descripta)

Red-spotted Ant Mimic(Castianeira descripta)

The red-spotted ant mimic spider has got its name because it mimics the ant by walking on six legs, and using the front pair of legs as antennas, much like ants. This method dupes the ants as they think the spider is one of them and let it roam around them. The spider hunts down the ants subsequently.

Scientific Classification

Red Spotted Ant Mimic Spider

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: The female spiders are 0.20-0.39 inches (0.5-1cm), while males are smaller.

Color: They have a black body, reddish-brown abdomen, and black legs, and a white line running through the center of their carapace.

Other Characteristic Features: The legs appear hairy and glossy.

Red Spotted Ant Mimic Spider Size

Eggs

Female spiders produce silk sac for their eggs, and after wrapping all of them inside, the sac is either attached to nearby stones or rocks.

Spiderlings

They overwinter and generally hatch in spring and are on their own since the beginning.

The Web

No specific information is found as far as the web for hunting is concerned, but they make silken sacs near ant colonies where they rest.

Are Red-spotted Ant Mimic Spider Venomous

They have venom that is only effective on small prey and not on humans. These spiders may bite if provoked, that is not more than a bee-sting.

Quick Facts

Distribution Canada and the United States
Habitat Shrubs, woods, parks, and stones
Diet Ants and small insects
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed

Did You Know

  • Such spiders’ color gives the impression to predators that they are aggressive and can sting at any time. They mostly imitate wasp-ants as these ants are known to have a detrimental bite to threaten predators.

Image Credits: Usaspiders.com, Spiderzrule.com

The red-spotted ant mimic spider has got its name because it mimics the ant by walking on six legs, and using the front pair of legs as antennas, much like ants. This method dupes the ants as they think the spider is one of them and let it roam around them. The spider hunts down the ants subsequently.

Red Spotted Ant Mimic Spider

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: The female spiders are 0.20-0.39 inches (0.5-1cm), while males are smaller.

Color: They have a black body, reddish-brown abdomen, and black legs, and a white line running through the center of their carapace.

Other Characteristic Features: The legs appear hairy and glossy.

Red Spotted Ant Mimic Spider Size

Eggs

Female spiders produce silk sac for their eggs, and after wrapping all of them inside, the sac is either attached to nearby stones or rocks.

Spiderlings

They overwinter and generally hatch in spring and are on their own since the beginning.

The Web

No specific information is found as far as the web for hunting is concerned, but they make silken sacs near ant colonies where they rest.

Are Red-spotted Ant Mimic Spider Venomous

They have venom that is only effective on small prey and not on humans. These spiders may bite if provoked, that is not more than a bee-sting.

Quick Facts

Distribution Canada and the United States
Habitat Shrubs, woods, parks, and stones
Diet Ants and small insects
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed

Did You Know

  • Such spiders’ color gives the impression to predators that they are aggressive and can sting at any time. They mostly imitate wasp-ants as these ants are known to have a detrimental bite to threaten predators.

Image Credits: Usaspiders.com, Spiderzrule.com