ARACHNIDA > ARANEAE > Cheiracanthidae

Prior to the publication of the new British checklist (Lavery, 2019), the Cheiracanthium genus was assigned to the Clubionidae, but has now been moved into this new family.

There are only three species, Cheiracanthium erraticum which is reasonably common, and Cheiracanthium virescens and Cheiracanthium pennyi that are nationally scarce or rare. They are similar in general appearance to Clubiona species, but are paler with a more robust body and thinner legs with the first pair being the longest.

The most likely species to be encountered is Cheiracanthium erraticum and although it has a distinctive abdominal pattern with a reddish central stripe within a broad yellowish median band flanked by greenish-grey sides that should make it easily identifiable, it could be confused with the much rarer Cheiracanthium pennyi, which has a not dissimilar pattern except that the dark stripe is typically narrower. The all-important central stripe is continuous for the full length of the abdomen in these two species, whereas in Cheiracanthium virescens it is unmistakably shorter extending no more than half way along.         

I was lucky in finding this scarce regional species and getting a couple of good photos that allowed identity to be confirmed by one of the experts who administers the FB British Spider Group. I was a bit thrown by the colour as I thought all these species had a more yellow appearance as suggested by their common name, but although that's true of the other two, Cheiracanthium virescens is recognised as being less colourful.   

These species are more likely to be found in drier habitats, particularly on heathland, perhaps less so with Cheiracanthium erraticum which can also occur in grassy areas, but almost exclusively with Cheiracanthium pennyi and Cheiracanthium virescens as both are very much associated with heather.

In respect of habitat, it's worth noting that although the site location for the individual featured here is Blandford Lakes, the actual spot where it was found was well away from the water in a relatively open sandy area on the edge of woodland. I spotted it under a cut stump where I was looking for centipedes and managed to coax it onto the wood for photos.

New family added, Dec.22 (v.1)