Cheiracanthium species

Fact Box Species: Cheiracanthium species (RM) possibly Cheiracanthium mordax Family: Miturgidae, formerly Clubionidae Body length: female: 10 mm male: 5 mm Habitat: By day this spider usually occupies a retreat formed by curling green leaves into an open tube and does its foraging during the evening Toxicity: The toxicity of this species is uncertain but at least some Cheiracanthium species are said to be able to cause significant illness in humans so this species probably should be handled with caution

View from above Male and female Adult male In its retreat Female and egg sac

This spider usually hunts at night but is easy enough to find by day. The garden plants it seems to prefer are some of the ornamental ferns but it is also common in green leafy annuals. Adult males can be found in late autumn.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Ariadna species and Clubiona robusta.