Tree trunk spider
Encyclopedia
The tree trunk spiders are members of the tropical and semi-tropical Family Hersiliidae. There are about 150 species in this family. These spiders have two very prominent spinnerets that are almost as long as their abdomen
. So they are also sometimes known as "two-tailed spiders." They range in size from about 10 mm (0.4 inch) to 18 mm (0.7 inch) long. Being very well camouflaged for life on the varicolored trunks of trees, they have an interesting way of capturing prey. Rather than making a web that captures prey directly, they lay a light coating of threads over an area of tree bark and wait hidden in plain sight for an insect to stray onto that patch. Once that occurs, they direct their spinnerets toward their prey and circle it; all the while casting silk on it. When the hapless insect has been thoroughly immobilized, they can bite it through its new shroud.
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
. So they are also sometimes known as "two-tailed spiders." They range in size from about 10 mm (0.4 inch) to 18 mm (0.7 inch) long. Being very well camouflaged for life on the varicolored trunks of trees, they have an interesting way of capturing prey. Rather than making a web that captures prey directly, they lay a light coating of threads over an area of tree bark and wait hidden in plain sight for an insect to stray onto that patch. Once that occurs, they direct their spinnerets toward their prey and circle it; all the while casting silk on it. When the hapless insect has been thoroughly immobilized, they can bite it through its new shroud.
Genera
- Hersilia Audouin, 1826 (Africa, Australasia)
- Hersiliola Thorell, 1870 (Mediterranean to Central Asia, Nigeria)
- Iviraiva Rheims & Brescovit, 2004 (South America)
- Murricia SimonEugène SimonEugène Simon was a French arachnologist. His many taxonomic contributions include categorizing and naming many spiders, as well as creating genera such as Anelosimus, Psellocoptus and Phlogius....
, 1882 (South Asia) - Neotama Baehr & Baehr, 1993 (America, South Africa, India)
- Promurricia Baehr & Baehr, 1993 (Sri Lanka)
- Tama Simon, 1882 (Spain, Portugal, Algeria)
- Tamopsis Baehr & Baehr, 1987 (Australia, Borneo)
- Tyrotama Foord & Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2005 (Africa)
- Yabisi Rheims & Brescovit, 2004 (USA, Caribic)
- Ypypuera Rheims & Brescovit, 2004 (South America)