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reticulated pirate spider

reticulated pirate spider (Mimetus notius) [female]
Photo © Hank Guarisco

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
The reticulated pirate spider is an eight-eyed spider. It occurs across North America. Females are one-half inch to three-sixteenths inch long. Males are slightly smaller, about one-eighth inch long. The covering (carapace) of the front part of the body is longer than wide and is covered with long curved spines. It is pale yellow with black markings, including four black lines. The lines extend backward from the eyes and converge on a groove in the thorax. The front legs have strong spines that are slightly curved and surrounded by smaller spines. The abdomen is high in front, yellow and mostly covered with black markings. It is armed with long, straight spines. The legs are pale with black spots and bands.

BEHAVIORS
This species is slow-moving, and sometimes can be found on the ground. Pirate spiders hunt on plants, mainly at night. They hide during the day. They feed on other spiders but will also take insects as food.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Mimetidae

Illinois Status: common, native