Platycryptus undatus

Platycryptus undatus, females

Platycryptus undatus is a web spider from the family of jumping spiders ( Salticidae ). It is distributed on the North American continent.

Features

The females of this species are 10 to 13 millimeters long, the males only 8.5 to 9.5 millimeters. The basic color of the spider is brown, legs brown black beige striped. The drawing on the opisthosoma makes it difficult to differentiate the spider from the bark of the trees on which it resides predominantly.

Occurrence

The distribution area of Platycryptus undatus extends from Canada through the United States and Mexico to El Salvador and Guatemala. The spider lives in mixed deciduous forests, but It likes to near human settlements and even in homes.

Way of life

The spiders lurk during the day, especially on vertical objects, such as trees, fences, etc. for prey. They hide under the bark. The spiders are active from late May to mid-September. They overwinter in woven cases, where it is up to 50 copies of which hibernate in there. The young spiders hatch in the summer.

Synanthropie

The spider is commonly found in the environment of man. They are found on the outer walls of houses and garages as well as wooden sheds and fences, where it searches for insects. This is called the way of life in the environment of the human synanthropisch. The spider awakens the curiosity of some people. It is often like worn on the hand, however, they do not flee, but the hand explored and it even jumps from finger to finger. The spiders tend not to bite to what they, however, despite their small size can. This are they doing but only if they squeezes or clamps.