Spitting Spider - Scytodes thoracica
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Species Description
Widespread but infrequent in the South. It is the sole member of its family in the UK. Habitat includes: buildings (usually heated ones). It has a particular association with museums. Life story: A slow-moving, nocturnal hunter which catches its prey by the unusual technique of squirting a sticky, venomous fluid from its chelicerae. These are moved in a side-to-side motion resulting in a zig-zag of threads that pins its prey to the surface. The same mechanism is used as a defence against other predators including spiders. Length: 3 - 6 mm.