
Community identification
Nursery Web Spider
Pisaurina mira
- Order & Family
- Araneae: Pisauridae
- Size
- Body length 10-15 mm for females; males are slightly smaller.
Natural Habitat
Fields, meadows, and woodlands, often found on shrubs, tall grass, or the exterior of buildings.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; hunts various insects such as flies, moths, and gnats using ambush tactics.
Behavior Patterns
Do not build webs to catch prey; females carry their egg sacs in their chelicerae and build a silk 'nursery' tent when the eggs are ready to hatch.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem by controlling pest insect populations; they are not aggressive toward humans and their venom is not considered medically significant.