Myrmarachne formicaria
This record describes Myrmarachne formicaria (species). Recorded family: Salticidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
It is the only ant-like North American jumping spider in which the male chelicerae project forward more than 50% of the carapace length, and in which the female palpal tarsus is dorsoventrally flattened and bent downward distally. (Bradley et al. 2006) Epigynum: The first specimen records of M. formicaria from North America have all been from Ohio, USA: from Warren , Trumble County on 16 August 2001 ; the J.H. Barrow Field Station, Portage County on 15 September 2002; and at a residence near Peninsula, Summit County. Additional individuals have been observed by the third author in and around the J.H. Barrow Field Station and the Peninsula residence during the summers of 2003 and 2004. (Bradley et al. 2006) First NY record: Amherst, Erie County, New York (near Buffalo) August 15, 2011 Myrmarachne formicaria (De Geer) Det. G. B. Edwards, 2011
Wikipedia reference for Myrmarachne formicaria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmarachne formicaria.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)
- Genus
- Myrmarachne
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
OH, PA, NY, ON so far (BG data to June 2019); native to Eurasia Recently introduced from Europe.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The species appears to be fairly common and is active during the warm months of the year in open areas as well as in buildings. It is sometimes associated with the local ants of the genus Formica . (Bradley et al. 2006)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: formica - Latin for an ant
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Myrmarachne formicaria. 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 Myrmarachne formicaria (5)
Photo credits: (c) Pierre Bornand, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) | (c) Ian Boyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) | (c) Jeff Burcher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND) | (c) jholmes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by jholmes | Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , cheins , Mike Quinn , dragonfly12 , ceiseman
Frequently Asked Questions About Myrmarachne formicaria
What is Myrmarachne formicaria?
Myrmarachne formicaria is a species in the family Salticidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Myrmarachne formicaria?
Body length ~ 6 mm (Bradley et al. 2006)
How do you identify Myrmarachne formicaria?
It is the only ant-like North American jumping spider in which the male chelicerae project forward more than 50% of the carapace length, and in which the female palpal tarsus is dorsoventrally flattened and bent downward distally. (Bradley et al. 2006) Epigynum:
Where is Myrmarachne formicaria found?
Range: OH, PA, NY, ON so far (BG data to June 2019); native to Eurasia Recently introduced from Europe.
What is the life cycle of a Myrmarachne formicaria?
The species appears to be fairly common and is active during the warm months of the year in open areas as well as in buildings. It is sometimes associated with the local ants of the genus Formica . (Bradley et al. 2006)