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ground spider

ground spider (Sergiolus capulatus) [female]
Illinois Status: common, native
Photo © Hank Guarisco

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
Sometimes known as the variegated spider, the male’s total body length is close to one-fourth inch while the female’s total body length ranges from one-fourth to slightly less than one-half inch. The cephalothorax and section of each leg closest to the body are orange. The abdomen is black with white bands.

BEHAVIORS
Males are active from February through November. Females are present from May through November. Because of its distinctive coloration, this species may be a mimic of velvet ants which are really wasps that can sting.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy ‭

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Chelicerata
Order: Araneae
Family: Gnaphosidae

Habitats

Woodland Habitats
deciduous forests

Prairie and Edge Habitats
black soil prairie; edge; hill prairie; shrub prairie