Castianeira crocata

(Hentz, 1847)

Red-spotted Ant-mimic Sac Spider, Red Stripe Spider

Castianeira crocata is a small -mimic spider in the Corinnidae, first described by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1847. It is found in the United States. The has a black body with distinctive red markings, a color pattern that can lead to misidentification as a black widow spider despite its very different body shape. Like other Castianeira species, it exhibits ant-mimicry and .

Castianeira crocata by (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC-BY license.Common Spiders U.S. 020-2 by James Henry Emerton (1847 – 1931). Used under a Public domain license.Red Stripe Spider by Largely Legible Layman. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Castianeira crocata: //ˌkæs.ti.əˈnaɪ.rə ˈkroʊ.kə.tə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Black body with red markings on the surface. Body shape differs substantially from that of black widow spiders (Latrodectus), which have a more globular and lack the -mimic body proportions. Specific diagnostic features distinguishing C. crocata from are not well documented in available sources.

Images

Distribution

United States. Specific state or regional records are not detailed in available sources.

Human Relevance

Risk of misidentification as a black widow spider due to shared black-and-red coloration, potentially causing unnecessary alarm. No documented medical significance.

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Sources and further reading