Philodromus dispar
This record describes Philodromus dispar (species). Recorded family: Philodromidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Philodromus dispar is a type of crab spider and is about 5 mm long. The male is black or dark brown with white edges, the female more beige in colour. Whilst the male is distinctive, the female can look very similar to P. cespitum . Mature males are distinctive but confirmation of females: Requires examination at high magnification in good lighting, typically examination of the genitalia. Bee, L., Oxford, G., & Smith, H. (2020). Britain's Spiders: A Field Guide. Second Edition. Princeton University Press. Various habitats in search of prey, but often near to houses. Best time to see this spider is from spring through to autumn. An agile hunter of small flies and other insects, it does not build a web. The females lay their eggs in a cocoon attached to leaves. They guard the eggs until autumn when the young spiders hatch. The spider overwinters in the bark of dead trees. Fairly frequent and widespread in England and Wales.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Philodromidae (Running Crab Spiders)
- Genus
- Philodromus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats in search of prey, but often near to houses.
Seasonal Activity
Best time to see this spider is from spring through to autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
An agile hunter of small flies and other insects, it does not build a web. The females lay their eggs in a cocoon attached to leaves. They guard the eggs until autumn when the young spiders hatch. The spider overwinters in the bark of dead trees.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and widespread in England and Wales.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Philodromus dispar. 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 Philodromus dispar (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Philodromus dispar
What is Philodromus dispar?
Philodromus dispar is a species in the family Philodromidae, within the order Araneae.
Where is Philodromus dispar found?
Habitat: Various habitats in search of prey, but often near to houses.
When is Philodromus dispar active?
Philodromus dispar: seasonal activity - Best time to see this spider is from spring through to autumn..
What is the life cycle of a Philodromus dispar?
An agile hunter of small flies and other insects, it does not build a web. The females lay their eggs in a cocoon attached to leaves. They guard the eggs until autumn when the young spiders hatch. The spider overwinters in the bark of dead trees.