Micaria dives
| Micaria dives | |
|---|---|
| Male Micaria dives | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gnaphosidae |
| Genus: | Micaria |
| Species: | M. dives
|
| Binomial name | |
| Micaria dives (Lucas, 1846)
| |
Micaria dives is a species of ground spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[1] It is a diurnal hunter. The body surface is glossy and often shows iridescent reflections, giving it a colorful appearance.
Behavior
Unlike many ground spiders that are nocturnal, M. dives is active during the day. It does not spin capture webs, but actively hunts small invertebrates on open sandy surfaces. The species exhibits ant-like movements and posture, which may serve as a defense mechanism against predators.
References
- Roberts, M. J. (1995). Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins Field Guide.
- Nentwig, W., Blick, T., Gloor, D., Hänggi, A. & Kropf, C. (eds.) (2025). Spiders of Europe. araneae.nmbe.ch
- ResearchGate figure on Micaria dives