For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
Mouse Spiders
Identify It > Spiders Section > Mouse Spiders >
Scientific name: Scotophaeus blackwalli
Size: Head and body 9 to 12 mm long
Distribution: Found throughout the UK
Months seen: All year but more frequently in summer and autumn
Habitat: Mostly in houses, sheds and outbuildings. Sometimes under bark on dead wood
Food: Flies and other small insects
Special features: Mouse spiders are so called because their abdomens are covered in silver-grey hair which resembles the fur of a mouse. The brown legs are relatively thick, and the dark brown head is pear shaped and narrow at the front where the closely grouped eyes are located.
Mouse spiders are are mostly nocturnal and very fast runners. They catch their prey by stalking, and then pouncing on unsuspecting invertebrates.
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