Cheiracanthium erraticum

Description

A foliage spider. The markings of this spider are distinctive. It has a wide dark red stripe running down the centre of the abdomen, which is in turn surrounded by an area of creamy-yellow. The head is a reddish brown.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Usually found among grass and low plants, often living in silk cells. Typically a heathland species.

Life History

The wasp Homonotus sanguinolentus a rare species is dependent on Cheiracanthium species. The wasp enters the egg-laying retreat of gravid female spiders and lays an egg on the front of the spider's abdomen. The spider remains alive in the retreat whilst the wasp larva feeds on its body fluids. After about 10 days the wasp larva kills the spider and consumes the remains.

UK Status

This spider is fairly common and widespread in Britain

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Further Information

1,522 British records for this species to 2015.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Spiders
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Araneae
Family:
Miturgidae
Records on NatureSpot:
11
First record:
09/05/2010 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
01/06/2024 (Harding, Ian)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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