Spiders of this genus have eight eyes in two procurved rows (meaning that the lateral eyes are farther toward the front of the body than the medial eyes), the upper row slightly wider than the lower row. This distinguishes them from species of Micaria that almost always have straight rows of eyes.[6] The
opisthosoma is not constricted,[7] and has an elongate to oval shape to mimic that of ants. In addition to the ant-like coloration, the abdomen has white scale-like
setae. The rear pair of legs are the longest, and the front pair are second longest.[8]
Mimicry
Some species are
ant mimics resembling specific groups of ants, while others only have generic body modifications to look more ant-like, such as an elongated body or a carapace pattern that creates the illusion of a third body segment. Some mimic ant behavior as well, waving their front two legs as if they were
antennae or bobbing their abdomen to look more ant-like.[9] Certain species found in Texas mimic
fire ants to prey on them, while some species use
Batesian mimicry, appearing like
velvet ants to take advantage of their
aposematism in order to deter predators.[8]
^Pickard-Cambridge, F. O. (1899), "Arachnida - Araneida and Opiliones", Biologia Centrali-Americana, Zoology, p. 81
^Keyserling, E. (1887). "Neue Spinnen aus America. VII". Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien. 37: 376.
^Keyserling, E. (1879). "Neue Spinnen aus Amerika". Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien. 29: 293–349.
^Ubick, D.; Paquin, P.; Cushing, P.E.; Roth, V., eds. (2005). Spiders of North America: An Identification Manual. American Arachnological Society.
ISBN0-9771439-0-2.
^
abReiskind, J. (1969). "The spider subfamily Castianeirinae of North and Central America (Araneae, Clubionidae)". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 138: 188–257.
Spiders of this genus have eight eyes in two procurved rows (meaning that the lateral eyes are farther toward the front of the body than the medial eyes), the upper row slightly wider than the lower row. This distinguishes them from species of Micaria that almost always have straight rows of eyes.[6] The
opisthosoma is not constricted,[7] and has an elongate to oval shape to mimic that of ants. In addition to the ant-like coloration, the abdomen has white scale-like
setae. The rear pair of legs are the longest, and the front pair are second longest.[8]
Mimicry
Some species are
ant mimics resembling specific groups of ants, while others only have generic body modifications to look more ant-like, such as an elongated body or a carapace pattern that creates the illusion of a third body segment. Some mimic ant behavior as well, waving their front two legs as if they were
antennae or bobbing their abdomen to look more ant-like.[9] Certain species found in Texas mimic
fire ants to prey on them, while some species use
Batesian mimicry, appearing like
velvet ants to take advantage of their
aposematism in order to deter predators.[8]
^Pickard-Cambridge, F. O. (1899), "Arachnida - Araneida and Opiliones", Biologia Centrali-Americana, Zoology, p. 81
^Keyserling, E. (1887). "Neue Spinnen aus America. VII". Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien. 37: 376.
^Keyserling, E. (1879). "Neue Spinnen aus Amerika". Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien. 29: 293–349.
^Ubick, D.; Paquin, P.; Cushing, P.E.; Roth, V., eds. (2005). Spiders of North America: An Identification Manual. American Arachnological Society.
ISBN0-9771439-0-2.
^
abReiskind, J. (1969). "The spider subfamily Castianeirinae of North and Central America (Araneae, Clubionidae)". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 138: 188–257.