Forest-spider
Guides
Clubiona mixta
Mixed Sac Spider
Clubiona mixta is a sac spider in the family Clubionidae, described by Emerton in 1890. It is one of many species in the genus Clubiona, which are characterized by having a distinct groove in the center of the carapace and a tuft of curved setae on the front edge of the abdomen. These features help distinguish Clubiona from the superficially similar genus Cheiracanthium (longlegged sac spiders), which lacks both characters. Sac spiders in this family are active hunters that do not build webs to capture prey.
Coras
Coras is a genus of funnel-web spiders in the family Agelenidae, containing fifteen described species found exclusively in eastern North America. The genus was established by Eugène Simon in 1898 after complex taxonomic revisions involving multiple family placements. These spiders are distinguished by their eye arrangement and build smaller funnel webs with multiple retreats, often in forested habitats and human structures.
Micrathena gracilis
Spined Micrathena
Micrathena gracilis is a small orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae, commonly known as the Spined Micrathena. Females possess distinctive abdominal spines and build moderately large, tightly coiled orb webs up to 30 cm in diameter. The species exhibits behavioral thermoregulation through web orientation, positioning webs to optimize solar exposure based on microhabitat conditions. It is harmless to humans and primarily inhabits wooded and brushy areas.
Micrathena sagittata
Arrow-shaped Micrathena, Arrow-shaped Orbweaver
Micrathena sagittata is a small orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae, recognized by its distinctive arrow-shaped abdomen with prominent spines. Females reach 8-9 mm in body length, while smaller males lack spines entirely. The species constructs circular webs approximately 30 cm in diameter in forest understory vegetation, where it captures flying and jumping insects. It occurs across the eastern United States and Central America, with peak activity from July through September.
Neriene montana
Old World Dome Sheetweaver
Neriene montana is a small sheetweb-weaving spider in the family Linyphiidae, formerly known as Linyphia montana. It has a holarctic distribution spanning northern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, and Japan. The species constructs distinctive hammock-shaped webs and is commonly found in vegetation, under logs, and on tree trunks. It is one of the more frequently observed linyphiid spiders, with over 3,400 records on iNaturalist.