Nursery Web Spider
Scientific Name: Pisaurina mira
Order & Family: Order Araneae, Family Pisauridae
Size: Body length 10-15 mm, plus legacy legs extending much further.
Natural Habitat
Found in tall grass, shrubs, and at the edges of woods; often moves into human structures in late autumn.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; hunts a variety of small insects including flies, gnats, and moths.
Behavior Patterns
Active hunters that do not use webs to catch prey. Known for the female carrying her egg sac in her chelicerae and building a silk 'nursery' tent for the spiderlings after they hatch.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans and rarely bite unless provoked. Beneficially controls pest insect populations.
Identified on: 5/17/2026