Cladycnis Insignis
ExploreInvertebrate
Cladycnis Insignis
cladycnis insignis
Cladycnis insignis is a striking nursery web spider native to the Mediterranean basin. Belonging to the family Pisauridae, this agile hunter does not rely on a traditional web to capture its prey, instead choosing to actively stalk and pounce on insects among low vegetation, grasses, and shrubs in warm, sunny habitats. Like other nursery web spiders, females exhibit remarkable maternal care, carrying their large egg sacs beneath their bodies and constructing a protective silk nursery dome for their newly hatched spiderlings. Their elegant form and distinct coloration make them a captivating find for arachnid enthusiasts exploring southern European landscapes.
Habitat: Typically found in Mediterranean scrublands, dry grasslands, and sunny low vegetation near woodland edges.
Appearance
This medium-sized spider displays a slender, elongated body, with females measuring between 10 to 15 millimeters and males slightly smaller. The carapace is typically yellowish-brown to reddish-orange, adorned with conspicuous pale yellow or white longitudinal bands along the sides. Its abdomen features a matching central pattern with elegant light-colored lateral stripes. The long, robust legs are covered in fine sensory hairs and prominent spines, ideal for gripping foliage and sprinting rapidly over leaves.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassArachnidaOrderAraneaeFamilyPisauridaeGenusCladycnis
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Their scientific name insignis translates to distinguished or remarkable, referring to their striking color patterns and elegant hunting posture.
To protect her young just before they hatch, the mother spins a complex silken nursery web over leaves and guards it aggressively against any intruders.
Unlike many spiders that carry egg sacs attached to their spinnerets, the female Cladycnis insignis carries her egg sac using her jaws and pedipalps.
Special abilities
Ability
Foliage Ambush
Uses its keen eyesight and vibrations to sense prey on leaves, launching a lightning-fast forward pounce without the aid of a capture web.
Ability
Maternal Nursery Construction
Constructs a dense, protective silk dome in low shrubs to house and guard its offspring after carrying the egg sac in its chelicerae.
Ability
Surface Tension Navigation
Utilizes its light weight and hydrophobic leg hairs to walk easily across the surface of calm water if pushed or hunting near margins.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 1+ cm
- Weight
- 0.0001+ kg
- Lifespan
- 1+ years
- Top Speed
- 2 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 50+
- Incubation
- 20+ days
Diet & Feeding
An active predator feeding primarily on small invertebrates, including flies, grasshoppers, and other spiders, caught through active hunting on vegetation.
Age differences: Spiderlings feed on tiny insects like fruit flies and aphids, while adults target larger orthopterans and dipterans.
Primary Foods
- Flies
- Grasshoppers
- Leafhoppers
- Small moths
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
hunts
Meadow Grasshopper
Chorthippus paralellus
Hunts and feeds on this common grassland grasshopper.
eaten by
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
Preys upon this spider when hunting in shrub canopies.
eaten by
Black Spider Wasp
Anoplius viaticus
Parasitizes and provisions its nest with this spider.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Cladycnis Insignis?
The easiest way to identify Cladycnis Insignis is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Cladycnis Insignis?
1+ cm
How much does Cladycnis Insignis weigh?
0.0001+ kg
How long does Cladycnis Insignis live?
1+ years
How fast can Cladycnis Insignis move?
2 km/h
What does Cladycnis Insignis eat?
An active predator feeding primarily on small invertebrates, including flies, grasshoppers, and other spiders, caught through active hunting on vegetation.
Where is Cladycnis Insignis usually found?
Typically found in Mediterranean scrublands, dry grasslands, and sunny low vegetation near woodland edges.
How does Cladycnis Insignis hunt?
Ambush
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