Ground Spiders: Gnaphosidae
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The Ground Spiders (Gnaphosidae family) are a small group of small spiders whose members tend to look like colorful ants.
A closer inspection of most species in the nine genera show that they share the physical traits of having thin bodies with extended spinneretts on the bottom of the abdomen.
The parson spider (Genus Herpyllus) a common spider found in houses, belongs to this group.
The top picture shows a member of the Sergiolus genus, probably Sergiolus columbiana. It is enlarged by a factor of about 5 to highlight the details.
Picture two shows a mouse spider, Scotophaeus blackwellii, a common western ground spider.
The dark, furry looking body often gives rise to the nickname mouse spider. However, it should not be confused with the more dangerous spiders of the Actinopodidae family, genus Missulena, that also go by the name mouse spider.
The bite of Scotophaeus blackwelli is not considered dangerous.
© 2008-2011 Patricia A. Michaels