Ghost spider
Hibana velox
35.8987, -86.9624
Field Notes
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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