Antlike Runners
Description
Members of the “ground active hunters” guild, these spider run quickly along the ground and chase down or ambush prey. Corinnidae do not build webs for hunting or trapping prey, but only as shelters, called “sacs”. As such these are sometimes known as sac spiders.
Species
- Castianeira descripta (2 images)
- Falconina gracilis (1 images)
Castianeira descripta
"Red-spotted Ant Mimic"
Description
This spider is black, nearly hairless, and has a large red mark over most of its opisthosoma, causing it to potentially be misidentified as a black widow. It will often be seen with its first legs extended in front of it like antennae.
Notes
Known to run on six legs, using its front pair as antennae similar to ants, this species is sometimes said to use that behavior to trick ants into letting it get close enough to prey on them. However, I will note that I have never seen a reference for this factoid and it seems dubious, given that the spider is much larger than almost any ants in central Texas and not colored or shaped like them. Typical of Corinnidae, this species is a fast runner.
Images of Red-spotted Ant Mimic
Falconina gracilis
Description
The prosoma is smooth and dark-brown to black. The opisthosoma can be the same color or paler brown, and has distinct, mirrored pale spots. The legs are more thin and brown.
Notes
Only found in southern California and near the gulf coast, this species has no common name.
Images of Falconina gracilis
