Spiders of North America

An accessible field guide to more than 500 of the most commonly found spider species in North America

Of the more than 49,000 species of spider worldwide, some 4,000 are in North America. Spiders of North America explores more than 500 of the most common and interesting spiders found in this region of the world. This richly illustrated guide begins with an overview of spiders--what they are exactly, how they can be found, how they develop, and why they are important. The book features information on all the major spider guilds: sensing web weavers, sheet web weavers, orb web weavers, space web weavers, ambush hunters, ground active hunters, other active hunters, and spider hunters. Chapters contain accessible descriptions for identifying members of each spider family, including helpful tips for distinguishing members of similar families, and details at the genus and species levels. Stunning color photographs and informative distribution maps accompany the text.

• Useful descriptions for identification of each spider family
• Stunningly detailed macro and in-situ photographs
• Information on all the major spider guilds
• Handy distribution maps

ISBN-13: 9780691175614

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Publication Date: 07-19-2022

Pages: 624

Product Dimensions: 5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.60(d)

Series: Princeton Field Guides - #126

Sarah Rose is chair of the American Arachnological Society’s Common Names Committee.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Acknowledgments viii

1 The Wonderful World of Spidering 1

What Is a Spider? 2

Key to the Extant (not Extinct) Arachnids 2

How to Separate the Mygalomorphae from the Araneomorphae 7

Spider Anatomy 8

Where Do Spiders Live? 12

Observing Spiders 13

Spider Life History 19

What Are the Benefits of Having Spiders Around? 26

Introduced Species 33

Are Spiders Venomous or Poisonous? 33

Spider Bites and Potentially Dangerous Venom 34

Online Resources 35

A Quick Word about Common Names 35

How to Identify Spiders 36

2 The Sensing Web Weaver Guild 39

Family: Antrodiaetidae (foldingdoor spiders) 41

Family: Atypidae (purseweb spiders) 44

Family: Euctenizidae (waferlid trapdoor spiders) 46

Family: Halonoproctidae (corklid trapdoor spiders) 49

Family: Nemesiidae (velveteen tarantulas) 52

Family: Theraphosidae (tarantulas) 53

Family: Filistatidae (crevice weavers) 54

Family: Hersiliidae (longspinneret spiders) 57

Family: Oecobiidae (flatmesh weavers) 58

Family: Segestriidae (tunnel spiders) 59

3 The Sheet Web Weaver Guild 61

Family: Euagridae (American funnelweb spiders) 65

Family: Hexurellidae (dwarf funnelweb spiders) 66

Family: Megahexuridae (ravine funnelweb spiders) 67

Family: Mfcrohexuridae (tiny funnelweb spiders) 68

Family: Agelenidae (funnel weaver) 69

Family: Amaurobiidae (hackledmesh weavers) 79

Family: Cybaeidae (soft spiders) 84

Family: Desidae (saltwater spiders) 89

Family: Hahniidae (combtail spiders) 91

Family: Linyphiidae (dwarf sheetweb weavers and sheetweb weavers) 97

Family: Ochyroceratidae (tiny ground weavers) 120

Family: Pimoidae (large hammockweb spiders) 121

Family: Telemidae (longlegged cave spiders) 122

4 The Orb Web Weaver Guild 124

Family: Anapidae (ground orbweavers) 125

Family: Araneidae (orbweavers) 127

Family: Symphytognathidae (dwarf orbweavers) 190

Family: Tetragnathidae (longjawed orbweavers) 191

Family: Theridiosomatidae (ray orbweavers) 208

Family: Uloboridae (hackled orbweavers) 211

5 The Space Web Weaver Guild 216

Family: Dictynidae (meshweavers) 219

Family: Diguetidae (desertshrub spiders) 226

Family: Hypochilidae (lampshade weavers) 228

Family: Leptonetidae (tiny cave spiders) 229

Family: Mysmenidae (dwarf cobweb weavers) 232

Family: Nesticidae (cave cobweb spiders) 234

Family: Pholcidae (cellar spiders or daddylongleg spiders) 236

Family: Theridiidae (cobweb weavers) 242

Family: Titanoecidae (rock weavers) 294

Family Trogloraptoridae (longclawed cave spiders) 295

6 The Ambush Hunter Guild 297

Family Deinopidae (netcasting spiders) 298

Family: Selenopidae (flatties) 300

Family: Sicariidae (sixeyed brown spiders) 302

Family: Thomisidae (crab spiders) 307

7 The Ground Active Hunter Guild 327

Family: Corinnidae (antlike runners) 331

Family: Dysderidae (woodlouse spiders) 339

Family: Gnaphosidae (stealthy ground spiders) 341

Family: Homalonychidae (dusty desert spiders) 358

Family: Liocranidae (spinylegged sac spiders) 360

Family: Lycosidae (wolf spiders) 362

Family: Myrmecicultoridae (antcolony spiders) 405

Family: Oonopidae (goblin spiders) 406

Family: Phrurolithidae (dwarf antrunner spiders) 409

Family: Plectreuridae (spurlipped spiders) 414

Family: Trachelidae (cuspuled spiders) 416

Family: Zodariidae (igloo spiders) 420

8 The Other Active Hunter Guild 423

Family: Anyphaenidae (ghost spiders) 427

Family: Cheiracanihiidae (yellow sac spiders) 435

Family: Clubionidae (sac spiders) 439

Family. Ctenidae (wandering spiders) 444

Family: Miturgidae (prowling spiders) 447

Family: Oxyopidae (lynx spiders) 449

Family: Philodromidae (running crab spiders) 458

Family: Pisauridae (nurseryweb spiders) 470

Family: Salticidae (jumping spiders) 481

Family: Scytodidae (spitting spiders) 572

Family: Sparassidae (giant crab spiders) 575

Family: Trechaleidae (longlegged water spiders) 579

Family: Zoropsidae (false wolf spiders) 581

9 The Spider Hunter Guild 584

Family: Caponiidae (bright lungless spiders) 585

Family: Cithaeronidae (running spider hunters) 587

Family: Mimetidae (pirate spiders) 588

Glossary 595

References 602

Index 603

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