Miturgidae

Simon, 1886

Prowling Spiders

Genus Guides

Syspira(prowling spiders)
Teminius
Zora

Miturgidae is a of araneomorph spiders commonly known as prowling spiders. The family includes approximately 160-200 across 33 worldwide. Members are small to medium-sized, active hunters that do not construct permanent webs for prey capture. The family has undergone substantial taxonomic revision, with the former family Zoridae synonymized and the genus Cheiracanthium (longlegged sac spiders) transferred to the separate family Cheiracanthiidae.

Teminius by (c) Lucas Rubio, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lucas Rubio. Used under a CC-BY license.

Teminius by (c) Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋）, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋）. Used under a CC-BY license.

Teminius insularis by (c) Nicolas Olejnik, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nicolas Olejnik. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Miturgidae: //mɪˈtɜːrdʒɪˌdeɪ//

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

Images

Habitat

Miturgidae spiders occupy diverse including ground surfaces, foliage, and vegetation. They construct sac-like shelters on vegetation or under rocks and debris. Some are particularly abundant in arid regions; for example, Syspira is common in desert areas of the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution with approximately 33 . Notable regional occurrences include: southwestern United States (southern California to west Texas), Mexico (including Baja California Sur), Hispaniola (Caribbean), and the Caucasus region (Ciscaucasia, Russian Caucasus).

Behavior

activity pattern. Spiders build sac-like silken retreats for daytime shelter. Females deposit and protect within these shelters. Active hunting without web construction; some prowl around outdoor lights to capture attracted insects.

Similar Taxa

CheiracanthiidaeFormerly classified in Miturgidae; longlegged sac spiders were transferred to this separate in 2014. Cheiracanthium construct similar sac retreats but differ morphologically and in use.
LycosidaeWolf spiders share similar ground-dwelling habits and active hunting , creating identification challenges. Miturgidae lack the characteristic arrangement of wolf spiders.
CtenidaeWandering spiders resemble Miturgidae in general appearance and active hunting . Geographic range and subtle morphological differences aid separation.
ZoropsidaeFalse wolf spiders share parallel dark stripes on the with some Miturgidae, leading to confusion. Detailed examination required for accurate identification.