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Comments & ID Thoughts
This spider was in my comfort bag shipped from Siri toothbrush. They are based in London it says but they likely have a us area too. I don’t know if the bag was made somewhere else (china?) and then to them then to us or ? Anyways I am afraid to release it in Santa Barbara but I don’t want it to die It got some water today and seemed thirsty Disregard location since was shipped in package
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Feb 22, 2025
- Photographed: Feb 22, 2025
- Spider: Unidentified
- Location: Santa Barbara , California, United States
- Spotted Indoors: Other
- Found in web?: No
- Attributes:
This isn’t a UK spider. It lookslike it could be a blunt headed sac spider in the family Trachelidae likely in the genus Trachelas
There are 2 common US species in this genus both found in different areas…so I don’t know if this one is native to California
This is the only picture I could find of the underside…note also how the front pair of legs are a darker colour to the others.
https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/arachnid/view.php?sort_order_num=551.05
Chericanthium genus.
That is a long legged sac spider and they are native to US. release is no problem.
But look at the front pair of legs Dan. Cheiracanthium don’t have legs like that. Trachelas and some other spiders do.
I looked up Trachelas and I think indeed you are correct. From what part of world I wonder. When I moved him into that glass for taking a photo and there was some moisture, she went straight to it and seemed to suck it up. And then almost seemed to put a gauze around her a little bit. But that could’ve been something else. I’m not quite sure.
I am fairly certain it is from the United States. But as I don’t know the species …I don’t know if it is a California native or not
Here are the species and their locations. T pacificus and T. tranquillus are the2 most common
https://bugguide.net/node/view/26206
The gauze it was spinning around itself is a sleep sac …they are nocturnal hunters and hide out during the day in this sac…its why they are called sac spiders
That is so cool. How often did they eat? Santa Barbara is supposedly doesn’t have them They definitely hitched a ride in the. Suri comfort bathroom bag. This is so interesting thank you so much. I really appreciate everyone’s help here.
And anything I can do to give it some food? A bit hesitant to release it into the garden since it’s not native to Santa Barbara.
Trachelas pacificus is deffo present in Santa Barbara. But I couldn’t guarantee that this spider belongs to this species. All the US species look so very similar.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/216048717
There is even one in China that looks a bit similar. But it seems to have banding on its legs.
I am not certain of the best way to care for it in captivity I an afraid. I presume it will catch any small insects you put into its enclosure. I read somewhere that these spiders will even eat dead insects they come accross.
That is true, perhaps you are correct.
I agree that it is best to keep it as a pet. Yes Hummingbird, they can drink water through their fangs. I keep the spiders in my house hydrated with house plants. The spiders can drink from the bottom dish or the soil. I had one that liked to climb down flowers in a vase to drink the water. A terrarium woild work well. Thank you for asking about it instead of just killing it. I never get bonus spiders in packages or bananas. A grocery store employee in my state recently found a non native venomous snake and was… Read more »
Wow thank you. This community is brilliant. How lucky to be in community with people so knowledgeable and caring. It is a duty to be a good steward and spiders keep the mosquito and other bug population in check all the while weaving such fine webs… how beautiful they when the morning Ferris dance on them in shimmering morning sunlight. I have a few more spiders I shall post that are in my yard. Some so huge and gorgeous.
Please do post some more photos. 🙂
Just learned more about possible origin home of spider – Virginia warehouse. Before that China. And of course transit could have been another entry point but my guess is Virginia Possibly china. Wonder if this helped
It doest help hugely I am afraid…it is still a toss up between 2….. Trachelas tranquillus is a virginia native but isnt found in California….and Trachelas pacificus is a California native. You can’t tell them apart from photos unfortunately .
Thank you very much. I did read that we didn’t have the California type in Santa Barbara except for the tarantula. But who knows. Super interesting. You guys are so impressive with the information thank you thank you.