1	Spiders of Ontario A guide to the identification of common species
2	INDEX SPIDERS AND THEIR RELATIVES THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIDERS IDENTIFYING SPIDERS A GUIDE TO THE FAMILIES OF SPIDERS IN ONTARIO
3	THE ARACHNIDS THE EIGHT-LEGGED ARTHROPODS THE MERISTOMATA (horseshoe crabs) THE CHELICERATA (scorpions, pseudoscorpions, whip scorpions, schizomizids, whip spiders, solpugids, spiders, harvestmen, mites and ticks.)
4	Arachnid morphology
5	Scorpions Order Scorpiones Two body parts Abdomen split into two sections Pedipalps form claws End of abdomen forms a sting Only terrestrial forms exist today 7 families, 1500 species
6	Pseudoscorpions Order Pseudoscorpiones Pedipalps form claws Two body parts No sting at end of abdomen Pedipalps have sting at claw tips Some species produce silk Use insects for transportation 400 species Two species in Ontario
7	Whip Scorpions Order Uropygi Two body parts Abdomen terminates with a filamentous extension First pair of legs antenniform Pedipalps claw-like
8	Whip Spiders Order Amblipygi Two body parts Front legs antenniform Pedipalps claw-like Found in caves, under bark or in animal burrows Sub-tropical to tropical
9	Wind Scorpions (camel spiders, sun spiders) Solpugi Two body parts Pedipalps larger than first legs Chelicera designed to tear up food Tend to prefer drier habitats Most species tropical but some species in Canada Approximately 400 species
10	Harvestmen Order Opiliones Only one body part Simple pedipalp Male pedipalp sometimes modified Legs long and thin
11	Mites & Ticks Order Acari
12	Spiders Order Araneae Two body parts Chelicera adapted to injecting saliva Food is externally digested Seven types of silk produced Secondary reproductive organs found in adult males
13	THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIDERS Spider silk is the strongest natural material known. Spider silk is important nesting material for birds. Ballooning allows spiders to be primary invaders in new territories. Spiders are the subject of myth in many cultures. All spiders are predators. They are major controllers of pest species. They are food for many amphibians, reptiles, birds & insects. Blamed on causing many bites and infections (actually estimated at only 15% of bites).
14	IDENTIFYING SPIDERS
15	Morphology Direction of fangs # of eyes # of claws on feet Position of legs Position of eyes Shape and Position of spinnerets Presence or absence of the cribellum
16	COMMON FAMILIES OF ONTARIO Sac spiders Clubionidae/Miturgidae Jumping spiders Salticidae Crab spiders Thomisidae Crab spiders Philodromidae Mesh web spiders Dictynidae White-eyed ground spiders Amaurobiidae Cribillate orb weavers Uloboridae Purse-web spider Atypidae Six eyed spiders Sicariidae Spitting spider Scytodidae Cellar spiders Pholcidae Comb-footed spiders Theridiidae Sheet web weavers Linyphiidae Orb weavers Araneidae Long-jawed spiders Tetragnathidae Grass spiders Agelenidae Wolf spiders Lycosidae Nursery-web spiders Pisauridae Ground spiders Gnaphosidae
17	Spitting Spider Scytodidae Does not build a retreat. Prey procured by shooting silk. Found indoors, greenhouses a favourite site.
18	Cellar Spiders Pholcidae One of the commonest spiders in basements. Common species from Europe. Extremely long legs on small body, builds a sheet/cob web One other species outdoors (Spermophora)
19	Comb-footed Spiders Theridiidae Builds a loose cob-web snare. Has a row of 6-10 setae on the hind tarsi Found indoors and outdoors. House spider and black widow are members of the family.
20	In the House
21	In the Field
22	The unexpected visitor
23	Sheet-webbed Spiders Linyphiidae Small spiders Build a sheet web with a “tangle web above. Sometimes two sheet webs are made Spider sits on underside of web.
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25	Orb Weavers Araneidae The most commonly recognized spider web. Builds vertical orb webs. Radiating silk used to walk on. Cross webbing used to entangle prey.
26	Genus Araneus
27	Genus Larinoides
28	Other Genera
29	And Others
30	Tetragnathidae Long-jawed spiders
31	Long-jawed Spider Tetragnathidae Chelicera enlarged Canadian species spin a horizontal web.
32	Funnel Weavers Agelenidae Called funnel weavers to help avoid confusion with funnel web spiders Forms a sheet web that leads to a funnel “hide” for spiders. Spider stays on top of web
33	Wolf Spider Lycosidae Large posterior medial eyes. Hunts by sight. Egg sac carried on spinnerets. Babies carried on abdomen. No web used to hunt.
34	Wolf spiders
35	Wolf spiders
36	Nursery-web Spider Pisuaridae A hunting spider Uses eyes to hunt Web only made to hold babies. Members include Dock Spiders Rafting spiders & Fishing Spiders
37	Nursery web spiders
38	Ground Spiders Gnaphosidae Mostly found on the ground or undercover. Many species black. Enlarged ALS. PME’s modified. PER straight to procurved. Egg sac flat disc with swollen center. No web for hunting.
39	Sac Spiders Clubionidae & Miturgidae Small to medium in size. Legs prograde. Usually pale in colour. A pale heart mark often present. Most often seen in sac on plants. Web not used to hunt.
40	Native sac spiders Clubiona species
41	Crab Spiders Thomisidae Crab-like appearance. Legs 1 & 2 long and stout. Legs 3 face forward. Web not used to catch prey. Lateral eyes on a tubercle.
42	Flower Crab spider Misumena vatia
43	Thomisid Crab spiders Xysticus species
44	Crab spider Philodromidae Somewhat crab-like. Second legs longer than first, 3^rd or 4rth. Abdomen may be elongate or oval. Found on plants. Does not use web to hunt.
45	Crab Spiders Philodromidae
46	Jumping Spiders Salticidae Greatly enlarged AME’s. Eyes appear in three rows. Short, strong legs. The spiders with the best vision. Will often look at people. The largest spider family Some species mimic ants
47	Jumping spiders
48	Jumping spiders
49	Jumping spiders
50	Mesh-web Spiders Dictynidae Small, difficult to identify to species. Six or eight eyes. Cribellate or ecribillate. Webs placed on leaves, at end of small dead branches, on flowers or occasionally on rocks.
51	Mesh web spider pair
52	Hacklemesh weavers Amaurobiidae Both cribellate and ecribellate species Eyes in two transverse rows Usually found under things in wooded habitats Ecribillate forms used to be in Agelenidae
53	Cribillate Orb Weaver Uloboridae Our only non-venomous spiders Small size Uloborus with tufts on legs Often found in greenhouses Not easy to find in forests
54	Six eyed Spiders Sicariidae Brown recluse Not native to Ontario Blamed as source of many “bites” in Ontario. From southern US Small webs, usually close to substrate.
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