Cheiracanthium species

Fact Box Species: Cheiracanthium species (RM, QM) possibly Cheiracanthium mordax Family: Miturgidae, formerly Clubionidae Body length: female: 10 mm male: 5 mm Habitat: In a retreat formed by curling green leaves into a tube Toxicity: Uncertain; this species is said to be able to cause at least mild illness in humans and so should be handled with caution

View from above Male and female Adult male In its retreat

This spider usually hunts at night but is easy enough to find by day. The garden plants it seems to prefer are some of the ornamental ferns but it is also common in green leafy annuals. Adult males can be found in late autumn.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Ariadna species and Clubiona robusta.