Agrarian Sac Spider
Cheiracanthium inclusum
This record describes Cheiracanthium inclusum (species). Recorded family: Cheiracanthiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Cheiracanthium inclusum, alternately known as the black-footed yellow sac spider or the American yellow sac spider (in order to distinguish it from its European cousin C. punctorium), was formerly classified as a true sac spider (of the family Clubionidae), and then placed in the family Miturgidae, but now belongs to family Eutichuridae. It is a rather small pale yellow species that is indigenous to the Americas and can be found living in the foliage of forests...
Identification notes
Epigynum: Palp:
Wikipedia reference for Cheiracanthium inclusum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheiracanthium inclusum.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Cheiracanthiidae (Long-legged Sac Spiders)
- Genus
- Cheiracanthium (Long-legged Sac Spiders)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This species is more likely to be found outside rather than in the home. The similar C. mildei occurs most often within homes but not necessarily so.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Cheiracanthium inclusum (Hentz, 1847)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Cheiracanthium inclusum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Agrarian Sac Spider (8)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Lynette Elliott , cheins , Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , kschnei , jsloan , Laura P.
Frequently Asked Questions About Agrarian Sac Spider
What is Agrarian Sac Spider?
Agrarian Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum) is a species in the family Cheiracanthiidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Agrarian Sac Spider?
Epigynum: Palp:
Where is Agrarian Sac Spider found?
Habitat: This species is more likely to be found outside rather than in the home. The similar C. mildei occurs most often within homes but not necessarily so.