#trachelas tranquillus

[spiderdungeons]

( Arachnophobia tw )

Tooty the Trachelas tranquillus looking absolutely adorable today as she enjoys her favorite food, strawberries 🍓

[power-handmaiden]

Day 147: Broad-faced Sac Spider

I saved one of these guys from getting killed by a coworker today BUT in my rush to do so I pinched off a back leg.... 😭 I hope she can find it in her little spider heart to forgive me...

[sternoid-art]

Inner Turmoil

Me when I have arachnophobia and I see a pretty gal at 1am

(I was thinking this post when I saw her)

Pictures of the gal under the cut

She's a photogenic broad-faced sac spider (Trachelas tranquillus) and she scares the shit outta me

[spiderdungeons]

Arachnophobia //

Tooty the Trachelas tranquillus is so fat and happy now LOL. she’s probably also gravid, which is perfectly fine because her species is a natural occurrence around here and releasing the babies later will be beneficial to the environment :)

Tooty is actually a species of spider that can scavenge on decomposing matter! Most spiders I keep are live-feeding only. she can eat live crickets, and enjoys those too. but she also really likes to snack on slightly mushy strawberries and blueberries :)

Trachelas tranquillus, or the broad-faced sac spider, is a pretty common spider in Eastern U.S. and Canada. They do have venom like most spiders, which has been documented to cause secondary infection if treated improperly (likely due to their tendency to feed on rotting matter).

But sac spiders, like many spiders, don’t bite unprovoked and are actually very shy. If you find one, let it outside if you’re concerned, or say hello to a beneficial roommate :)

[spiderask]

What spider is this? Dangerous? Found in my bathroom tub in southeast Michigan.

Hello, Jamie!

No, they’re not dangerously venomous, though they can give a painful bite with their larger chelicerae/fangs. They’re a Broad-Faced Sac Spider, Trachelas tranquillus. They’re also fairly shy- like most spiders- and so isn’t prone to biting without provocation.

In the unlikely event that you’re bitten, just wash the site of the bite thoroughly with warm, soapy water and keep an eye on it for signs of infection. Secondary infection has been recorded, since these spiders tend to scavenge already dead animals (the very small kind).

Thanks for asking!