Bug Identifier
Nursery Web Spider
Community identification

Nursery Web Spider

Pisaurina mira

Order & Family
Araneae: Pisauridae
Size
10 to 19 mm (body length), with a leg span often exceeding 50 mm.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Tall grass, shrubs, and wooded areas; often found near human structures like garages or porches during seasonal changes.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; they are active hunters that eat a variety of small insects including flies, beetles, and other spiders.

Behavior Patterns

They do not build webs to catch food but hunt actively. Females are known for carrying their large egg sacs under their bodies and building a 'nursery' web for the spiderlings after they hatch.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans; they have venom but are not aggressive and rarely bite unless handled roughly. They provide ecological benefits by controlling insect populations.