Parson Spider, Sac Spider, or ?????

BarnSpider

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 15, 2005
Messages
2
Hello,
I just joined the list today, so bear with me if I make any mistakes. I took a pic of a spider that had a silken retreat where the wall & ceiling meet. I know that Sac Spiders build a silken retreat, but this spider was very dark in coloration unlike the Sac Spiders I've seen, & the front two legs didn't seem real long like a Sac Spiders would be. It was about a 1/2" long. Here's the pic of it. Any ideas? I live in Wisconsin in case anyone is wondering where I am. Thanks!

Jim in WI.
 

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cacoseraph

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 5, 2005
Messages
8,325
aw heck, i guess i'll throw out a guess

Tegenarian family, mabye?

they are, after all, house spiders :)

and they can make sheet webs like that

it doesn't really look much like a sac spider to me, but i'm only even remotely familiar with california bugs... and even there i'm still guessing

i've said it before and i'll say it again:

identity is in the eyes of the spider

try to get a pic of eye arrangement, if you can
 

BarnSpider

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 15, 2005
Messages
2
I already did a capture & release. I would have taken more photos, but right now I'm still waiting to collect a few more pickle & jelly jars for "critter keepers". Not knowing if it was mildly toxic like Sac Spiders are I didn't want to take the chance. Too close to my bedroom. :)

Jim in WI.
 

NRF

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 10, 2004
Messages
252
I´d say it belongs to Gnaphosidae. Spinnerets and the curved position of the front legs...
 

ilovebugs

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 15, 2004
Messages
443
IMO it looks like a Grass Spider, Agelenopsis pennsylvanica. but I could be totally wrong.



they make amazing webs, with long tunnels. it's kind of odd to me that it would be on the ceiling though.
 

Venom

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 21, 2002
Messages
1,700
Hey Jim, welcome to the boards!

And yes, it is definitely a Gnaphosidae, possibly the parson ( Herpyllus ecclesiasticus ) though I can't tell through the webbing. Parsons are mildly venomous.
 
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