Flattie Spider: All You Need to Know in a Nutshell

The Flattie Spider is a fascinating species worth learning about. Found in warm climates, these spiders are known for their unique appearance and intriguing hunting habits. Here are the essential facts you need to know about the Flattie Spider.

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These spiders are aptly named for their flat body shape, which helps them blend seamlessly into their surroundings. They exhibit clever camouflage techniques, using their physical appearance to their advantage when seeking out prey. Flattie Spiders are also known for their agile hunting skills, swiftly capturing unsuspecting insects that venture too close.

As nocturnal creatures, Flattie Spiders are most active during the night, when they employ their exceptional visual acuity to navigate in low-light conditions. Their eyesight is impressive, especially considering their relatively small size compared to other spider species. For those interested in arachnids, Flattie Spiders are a captivating subject worth further exploration.

What Are Flattie Spiders?

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Flattie spiders belong to the Animalia kingdom, in the phylum Arthropoda. They are part of the class Arachnida and the order Araneae. Their scientific family name is Selenopidae.

Family Selenopidae

Flattie spiders, or Selenopidae, are known for their crab-like appearance and flattened bodies. This unique shape allows them to fit into tight spaces, like the crevices of walls.

Some key features of Flattie spiders include:

• Crab-like appearance with flattened bodies
• Ability to fit into tight spaces
• Fast and agile hunters

Other Common Names

Flattie spiders are also commonly referred to as wall crab spiders. This nickname comes from their ability to scale vertical surfaces and blend in with their surroundings.

Here’s a comparison of Flattie spiders with other spider families:

In summary, the Flattie spider belongs to the Selenopidae family, known for their flattened, crab-like appearance. These spiders are agile hunters that can be found in crevices and on walls, earning them the nickname “wall crab spiders.”

Physical Characteristics

Fast and Agile Movement

Flattie spiders are known for their fast and agile movement. They can spin and turn quickly, making them efficient hunters. The fastest leg-driven turning maneuver ever recorded was by a flattie spider, showcasing its incredible speed.

• Spin quickly
• Execute fast turns

Six Eyes

Unlike most spiders, Flattie spiders have six eyes arranged in a unique pattern. This particular configuration helps them in spotting and tracking their prey more efficiently.

• Unique eye arrangement
• Better prey detection

Laterigrade Posture

The Flattie spider’s laterigrade posture sets them apart from other spiders. This posture involves adopting a sideways stepping pattern while moving, making their movements more unpredictable and stealthy.

• Sideways stepping pattern
• Unpredictable and stealthy movement

Habitat and Range

Location and Range

The Flattie Spider, also known as the southern house spider, is commonly found in human-populated areas throughout the southern United States, including Florida. Their distribution spans numerous countries:

• North America: United States
• Central America: Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
• South America: Paraguay, South Africa
• Africa
• Asia: Iran, India, Nepal
• Other locations: Zambia

Environment and Preferred Habitat

Flattie Spiders are known as crevice spiders and prefer living in:

• Warm climates
• Cracks, crevices, or small spaces
• Outdoors and indoors

These species find shelter in various environments:

• Gardens
• Homes
• Buildings
• Woods

Examples of Flattie Spider’s habitats:

• Residential houses in Florida, Arizona, and Costa Rica
• Forest edges in India and Nepal
• Rocky regions in South Africa and Zambia

Comparison table of environments

Characteristic features of Flattie Spider’s preferred habitats:

• Access to small cracks or crevices
• Presence of a food source, like insects
• Warm, sheltered spots

Behavior and Lifestyle

Predatory Behavior

Flattie spiders, part of the Araneomorphae group, are known for their incredible ambush skills. These wall spiders use their flat bodies to blend in with surfaces such as walls and rocks, waiting to strike their prey. Their attacks are exceptionally fast, taking place within the blink of an eye. Some examples of their prey include various insects and terrestrial animals.

Feeding Habits

These spiders rely on their camouflage and agile movements to capture their prey. They don’t create webs for catching food, instead using their stealth and speed. Flattie spiders are opportunistic feeders, consuming any suitable prey that comes within striking distance.

Seasonality and Activity Patterns

Flattie spiders can be active throughout the year, but their activity levels vary depending on the season. Here’s a brief breakdown of their patterns:

• January – March: Lower activity due to colder temperatures.
• April – June: Increased activity as temperatures rise and prey becomes more abundant.
• July – September: Peak activity with optimal conditions for hunting.
• October – December: Reduced activity as temperatures drop and prey becomes scarce.

Some fascinating characteristics of Flattie spiders:

• Flat body shape for seamless camouflage.
• Fast and efficient predatory behavior.
• Opportunistic feeding habits.
• Seasonal variation in activity levels.

In comparison to other spiders, Flattie spiders stand out for their unique hunting strategy:

In conclusion, Flattie spiders exhibit fascinating behaviors and lifestyles that make them intriguing creatures to learn about. Understanding their predatory tactics, feeding habits, and how their activity changes with the seasons helps us better appreciate their role as efficient hunters in the natural world.

Reproduction and Lifecycle

Mating and Reproduction

Flattie spiders have a unique mating process. The male spider searches for a female and communicates using a series of body vibrations. Once the female accepts, they mate.

• Males use body vibrations to communicate
• Females accept by responding to the vibrations

Lifecycle and Development

Flattie spiders go through a few stages in their lifecycle:

1. Egg: Females lay eggs in a silk sac
2. Spiderlings: Tiny spiders hatch from the eggs
3. Juvenile: The spiderlings grow through several molts
4. Adult: The spider reaches full maturity

Here’s an overview of their development process:

Flattie spiders generally have a short lifespan, with the sex determining the duration. Males live for around 6 months, while females may live up to a year.

Species and Genus

Selenops Genus

The Flattie spider belongs to the Selenops genus, which is known for their flattened bodies and unique hunting techniques. These spiders are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions. Some interesting features of this genus include:

• Flattened body allows them to hide in narrow crevices
• Agile and fast-moving hunters
• Nocturnal creatures actively hunting during the night

Different Species

There are several species within the Selenops genus, each with their distinct characteristics. Here are a few examples:

• Selenops radiatus: Mainly found in the southeastern United States, this species varies in color from a light brown to a dark gray. It can largely be found in homes and other structures.
• Selenops mexicanus: This species is native to Mexico and Central America. It has a distinct mottled pattern on its body, which camouflages well with its surroundings.
• Selenops submaculosus: Native to the Caribbean, this species of Flattie spider has subtle patterns on its body and often lives in palm trees, hiding under bark.

Observations and Research

Sightings Overview

The Flattie Spider, belonging to the Selenopidae family¹, has caught the attention of researchers and entomologists worldwide. The World Spider Catalog² provides information on these spiders’ sightings and identification.

Spider ID and Documentation

Spider ID³ is a platform where members share spider sightings, and it’s a valuable resource for documenting Flattie Spider occurrences. For instance, one Spider ID member reported a sighting in California⁴, contributing to a growing body of knowledge on this arachnid.

Entomologist Contribution

Entomologists, such as those working at the California Academy of Sciences⁵, have published studies on Flattie Spiders in journals like the Journal of Experimental Biology⁶. Their research offers insights into the spider’s characteristics:

• Named by Latreille in 1819⁷
• Part of the Selenopidae family
• Unique flat appearance

Identification Features

To help with identification, here are some key features of the Flattie Spider:

• Flat body shape
• Wide-set eyes
• Fast-moving

Comparison Table

Human Interaction and Coexistence

Encounters with Flattie Spiders

Flattie spiders are generally non-aggressive and rarely encountered by humans. When they do interact with people, it’s often due to their habitat preferences:

• Low foliage: Flattie spiders commonly reside in low foliage where they hunt for prey at night.
• Under rocks or debris: These spiders can also be found hiding under rocks or debris in natural settings.

Flattie Spiders in Man-Made Structures and Natural Settings

Flattie spiders can adapt to various environments, including:

• Man-made structures: Flattie spiders may find their way into homes and buildings, particularly in search of prey or shelter.
• Natural settings: These spiders are native to regions like Madagascar and Australia, where they can be found in different types of foliage and landscapes. For example, they may inhabit bark on trees or rest near freshwater rivers, lakes, and streams.

Here’s a comparison table highlighting the differences between their habitat preferences:

In conclusion, while Flattie spiders are rarely encountered by humans, they can adapt to different environments and can be found in both man-made structures and natural settings. The key to coexisting with these spiders is understanding their habitat preferences and taking steps to minimize contact, such as checking areas where they are likely to hide and being mindful of their presence in those locations.