 |  
|
Hamataliwa grisea OXYOPIDAE Description The total length for females of this species is 9-11mm and for males, 8-11mm. The overall color of the female appears light to dark gray and the body is covered with white and black hairs intermixed. There are two light stripes on the carapace. One is vertical from the posterior lateral eyes down to the chelicerae. The other is horizontal along the sides of the carapace. The sides of the lower carapace are darker; some individuals have a fringe of hairs along the lower side of the abdomen. The male's coloration and patterns are similar to the female but generally with a darker carapace and without the horizontal stripes on the sides of the carapace.
Hamataliwa grisea occurs across the southern United States from Florida to California, south to central Mexico and Baja California. In San Diego County this species occurs in lower altitude coastal and desert areas. It can be collected in grass sweeps but is most often found in larger shrubs and trees Natural History Hamataliwa grisea are active at night, often hanging on a line of silk both ends of which are attached to a branch. They capture flying insects that venture too close. During the day they sit on a branch with legs tucked under their body. This posture and their coloration allows the spider to appear as a bump on the branch. Their movement can be erratic including short hops. Related and Similar Species There are no other similar species in San Diego County. References Brady, A.R. 1964. The lynx spiders of North America north of Mexico (Araneae, Oxyopidae). Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 131(13): 432-518. | ||
