
Community identification
Nursery Web Spider
Pisaura mirabilis
- Order & Family
- Araneae, Pisauridae
- Size
- Body length 10-15 mm (males) and 12-15 mm (females), with a large leg span.
Natural Habitat
Tall grass, low-growing vegetation, shrubs, and occasionally the exterior or interior of homes.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; it hunts a variety of small insects and other spiders by stalking rather than using a web to capture prey.
Behavior Patterns
Diurnal hunters known for the female carrying a large white egg sac under her body and later building a 'nursery' web for the spiderlings. Males often offer a silk-wrapped gift (an insect) to the female during courtship.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans; they are not aggressive and their venom is not medically significant. Beneficially acts as a natural pest control by eating flies and other garden insects.