Micaria pulicaria
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| Micaria pulicaria | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gnaphosidae |
| Genus: | Micaria |
| Species: | M. pulicaria |
| Binomial name | |
| Micaria pulicaria | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Micaria pulicaria, the glossy ant spider,[2] is a species of ground spider from the family Gnaphosidae with a Holarctic distribution.[1]
The cephalothorax is glossy black, although less iridescent than the opisthosoma, and marked with radiating white lines. The abdomen is very iridescent and shows two parallel, white lines across the prosoma, with three dots in a line along the posterior portion of the prosoma. The femora on legs I and II are black, while those on legs III and IV are dark brown. The body length of the females is 2.7–4.5 mm while for males it is 3–3.5 mm.[3]
Biology
Micaria pulicaria is not ant hunting, although it associates with ants,[4] and it quivers its front legs to mimic ant antennae which may help prevent it falling prey to those larger spiders which generally avoid contact with ants. The females enclose the eggs within a stiff sac resembling a rimmed pot and although she does not guard them, she does return frequently to check it. The adults have been recorded from early February to late November, although they may occur throughout the year. The main season is from late spring until mid-summer.[5]