Clubiona moesta

Banks, 1896

Clubiona moesta is a of sac spider in the Clubionidae, first described by Banks in 1896. It belongs to a family of wandering spiders that do not construct permanent webs for prey capture. The species has a documented distribution across North America and Asia, with records from the United States, Canada, and China. Like other sac spiders, it constructs temporary silken retreats for shelter rather than for prey capture.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Clubiona moesta: /kluːˈbaɪ.ə.nə ˈmwes.tə/

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Identification

Members of the Clubiona can be distinguished from the superficially similar genus Cheiracanthium (longlegged sac spiders) by two key characters: Clubiona possesses a distinct groove in the center of the , and has a tuft of curved setae on the front edge of the . Cheiracanthium lacks both of these features. Specific identification of C. moesta would require examination of genitalic structures and comparison with .

Distribution

United States, Canada, and China. Specific Canadian provincial records include Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.

Behavior

As a sac spider, Clubiona moesta is a wandering hunter that does not construct webs to capture prey. It likely constructs temporary silken retreats for shelter during inactive periods, as is characteristic of the Clubionidae.

Similar Taxa

CheiracanthiumLonglegged sac spiders in the Cheiracanthium are frequently confused with Clubiona due to similar body form and habits. They can be distinguished by the absence of a groove and the lack of a tuft of curved setae on the margin.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

The Clubionidae has undergone significant revision in recent years. Some formerly placed in Clubionidae, such as Cheiracanthium, have been moved to other families (Eutichuridae). Clubiona remains the type genus of Clubionidae.