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Ghost spider

Hibana velox

Description:

Hibana velox is a common spider of North America. It can be found in foliage and in houses. It is useful in preying on insects like the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella (Gracillariidae). It is a anyphaenid sac spider; distinguished from other spiders by having the abdominal spiracle placed one third to one half of the way anterior to the spinnerets toward the epigastric furrow on the underside of the abdomen. In most spiders the spiracle is just anterior to the spinnerets. Like clubionids, anyphaenids have eight eyes arranged in two rows, conical anterior spinnerets and are wandering predators that built silken retreats, or sacs, usually on plant terminals, between leaves, under bark or under rocks. There are more than 500 species in over 50 genera worldwide.

Notes:

Found this guy this morning inside one of my bird feeders which is probably not the smartest place for him to be! Strangely there was a second spider - a species of flower crab I think also hanging out among the sunflower seeds which I will post as a separate spotting.

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4 Comments

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Added to new Spiders of Tennessee mission - http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/9135...

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

:) I've found a few spiders hanging out in the feeders - I guess it is a sheltered place for them & maybe they feed on other small critters are attracted to the seed!

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

Very creepy! Perfect name. What it thinks it is a bird? HA!

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

ID supplied by bugguide.net

KarenL
Spotted by
KarenL

Tennessee, USA

Spotted on Oct 31, 2011
Submitted on Oct 31, 2011

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