Lincoln, Nebraska. Spider, Striped legs

[kryliss]

This spider was found on my daughter's ceiling. When I captured him in the jar it looked like he tried to rappel down into the jar. I don't think it's a brown recluse but I'm not sure. Captured today 29 April 2012. The weather outside is currently light rain and 50 degrees if that helps.

[Ungoliant]

I don't think it's a brown recluse but I'm not sure.

It's definitely not a brown recluse or any other dangerously venomous spider. Recluse spiders (genus Loxosceles) can be distinguished from most other spiders by their unusual eye arrangement: their six eyes are arranged in pairs.

[Eric]

Kryliss:

Your images are sufficient for me to identify this as a mature male "running crab spider" in the family Philodromidae. The fact that the second pair of legs is longer than the first leads me to that conclusion. This specimen is probably in the genus Philodromus, but I can't be certain. I'd need to examine it under a microscope to be sure.

These spiders hunt "on foot" instead of building webs to snare prey, and they occasionally stray indoors. This fella is probably looking for a mate as well :-)

No species in the Philodromidae is considered by scientists to be dangerously venomous, so rest easy. Coax him into a container and take him back outside, or give him free reign to kill flies, moths, and other pest insects.

Eric

[kryliss]

Awesome!!! Thanks Eric! This is the second one of these I've found in my house.. The first one was found up on the wall right by the ceiling, and this one was on the ceiling.