Cheiracanthium mildei


Cheiracanthium mildei is a species of spider from the family Eutichuridae. C. mildei is commonly known as the northern yellow sac spider, a name it shares with many other spiders of its genus.

Description

C. mildei usually has a pale green or tan body, with darker brown palpi and chelicerae. An adult C. mildei is usually in body size. Each leg ends in double claws, and the front pair is significantly longer. The eyes have a tapetum lucidum that reflects back to the light source once lit, suggesting that the spiders have good to excellent vision and are agile prey hunters. Although this spider can bite humans, the effects appear to be mild.

Habitat and distribution

C. mildei is widespread across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, as well as most of northern Europe and can be found outside, or more commonly inside houses. The American species is thought to have been introduced there from Europe by the English colonists.

Prey and predators

C. mildei is a dominant predator of S. littoralis in Africa and Mid Eastern regions. The mechanism of predation include causing direct death by consuming the larvae and causing indirect death by dispersing larvae from its host plants.