For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Long Spinnered Bark Spider - Hersilia Sp

The Hersiliidae is a family of spiders noted for their elongated posterior lateral spinnerets which can be as long as the abdomen in long-spinnered bark spiders and less in rock living species. Hersiliids are small to medium (4.5-12.5mm body length) dorso-ventrally flattened spiders, especially the arboreal genera. They are cryptically coloured in variegated shades of cream, orange, green, brown, grey and black, features they share with the family Selenopidae. Both families are quick and difficult to capture as they disappear into the narrowest of crevices.
 Their spinnerets are used in prey capture by swaying over the victim thus wrapping them in silk.
 Two genera are found in South Africa:

Hirsilia is usually found in trees and Tyrotama is usually found under rocks.

Their body is covered with a thick layer of hair.
Info:
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/arachnids/spiders/hersiliidae/index.htm