Trachelas tranquillus
(Broad-faced Sac Spider)

The spider species Trachelas tranquillus, commonly known as Broad-faced Sac Spider, belongs to the genus Trachelas, in the family Trachelidae. Trachelas tranquillus spiders have been sighted 32 times by contributing members. Based on collected data, the geographic range for Trachelas tranquillus includes 1 countries and 16 states in the United States. Trachelas tranquillus is most often sighted indoors, and during the month of October.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Araneomorphae
Family: Trachelidae
Genus: Trachelas
Species: Trachelas tranquillus

Other Common Names

Broadfaced Sac Spider, Sac Spider, Bullheaded Sac Spider

Author

Nicholas Marcellus Hentz, 1847

Primary Colors

Sightings Overview

There have been 32 confirmed sightings of Trachelas tranquillus (Broad-faced Sac Spider), with the most recent sighting submitted on November 21, 2023 by Spider ID member bridget-hulsizer. The detailed statistics below may not utilize the complete dataset of 32 sightings because of certain Trachelas tranquillus sightings reporting incomplete data.

Web: 6% of the time, Trachelas tranquillus spiders are sighted in a spider web (Sample size: 32)
Sex: 0 female and 0 male.
Environment: Trachelas tranquillus has been sighted 7 times outdoors, and 25 times indoors.
Outdoors: Man-made structure (4). Low foliage (3).

Location and Range

Trachelas tranquillus (Broad-faced Sac Spider) has been sighted in the following countries: United States.

Trachelas tranquillus has also been sighted in the following states: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, D.C..

Seasonality

Trachelas tranquillus has been primarily sighted during the month of October.

January: 1
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
July:
August:
September: 10
October: 16
November: 4
December: 1

Additional Remarks

Often found in silken retreats constructed in rolled-up leaves or occasionally under rocks.
Frequently strays indoors in late summer or fall during their mating season.
Egg sac is white and lenticular, around 10mm in diameter and 2.5mm thick, with around 30-50 eggs; often deposited under loose tree bark, rolled leaves, or under a rock.
Because of similar coloration, this species can be mistaken for the “Woodlouse Hunter,” Dysdera crocata. The Woodlouse Hunter can be distinguished by its very long jaws and fangs, as well as its unique eye arrangement: 6 eyes grouped closely in a semi-circle. Trachelas tranquillus has 8 eyes widely spaced.