Micaria

Micaria; Temporal range:
	female Micaria sp.
	male M. beaufortia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Gnaphosidae
Genus:	Micaria; Westring, 1851
Type species
	M. fulgens; (Walckenaer, 1802)
Species
	127, see text
Synonyms
	Arboricaria Bosmans, 2000 ; Castanilla Caporiacco, 1936 ; Epikurtomma Tucker, 1923> ; Micariolepis Simon, 1879 ;

Micaria is a genus of ground spiders that was first described by Niklas Westring in 1851.⁷ They are 1.3 to 6.5 millimetres (0.051 to 0.256 in) long.⁸

They are often called "ant spiders" due to their ant-like appearance and ant mimicking behavior.⁹

Distribution

Spiders in this genus are found in the Holarctic, Indomalayan, Australasian and Afrotropical zoogeographic regions.¹

Species

As of September 2025 the genus contains 127 species and two subspecies.¹

These species have articles on Wikipedia:

Micaria beaufortia (Tucker, 1923) – Ethiopia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Lesotho
Micaria chrysis (Simon, 1910) – Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Lesotho
Micaria dives (Lucas, 1846) – Europe, North Africa, Turkey, Israel, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to Far East), Iran, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Pakistan, India, China, Korea, Japan
Micaria gertschi Barrows & Ivie, 1942 – Canada, United States
Micaria longipes Emerton, 1890 – Canada, United States, Mexico
Micaria longispina Emerton, 1911 – Canada, United States
Micaria pasadena Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States, Mexico
Micaria pulicaria (Sundevall, 1831) – Europe, Georgia, Russia (Europe to Far East), Kazakhstan, China, Japan, Alaska, Canada, United States
Micaria rossica Thorell, 1875 – Alaska, Canada, United States, Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to Far East), Kazakhstan, Iran, Central Asia, Mongolia, China
Micaria tersissima Simon, 1910 – South Africa

Micaria fulgens
M. micans
M. tersissima
M. pulicaria

Complete species list as of September 2025

Micaria aborigenica Mikhailov, 1988 – Russia (north-eastern Siberia)
Micaria aciculata Simon, 1895 – Russia (South Siberia)
Micaria aenea Thorell, 1871 – Alaska, Canada, United States, Europe, Russia (Europe to Far East), Kazakhstan
Micaria albofasciata Hu, 2001 – China (Himalaya)
Micaria albovittata (Lucas, 1846) – Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to Central Asia), Iran, Turkmenistan, China?
Micaria alpina L. Koch, 1872 – Alaska, Canada, Europe, Russia (Europe to Far East), Japan
Micaria atropatene Zamani & Marusik, 2021 – Azerbaijan, Iran
Micaria basaliducta Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – South Africa
Micaria beaufortia (Tucker, 1923) – Ethiopia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Lesotho
Micaria belezma Bosmans, 2000 – Algeria
Micaria bimaculata Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Mauritania
Micaria bispicula Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Namibia, South Africa
Micaria bonneti Schenkel, 1963 – Mongolia, China
Micaria bosmansi Kovblyuk & Nadolny, 2008 – Turkey, Ukraine, Russia (Europe, Caucasus)
Micaria braendegaardi Denis, 1958 – Afghanistan
Micaria brignolii (Bosmans & Blick, 2000) – Portugal, Spain, France
Micaria browni Barnes, 1953 – United States
Micaria camargo Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – Mexico
Micaria capistrano Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States, Mexico
Micaria charitonovi Mikhailov & Ponomarev, 2008 – Kazakhstan
Micaria chrysis (Simon, 1910) – Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Lesotho
Micaria cimarron Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States
Micaria ciri Liu & Zhang, 2025 – China (Himalaya)
Micaria coarctata (Lucas, 1846) – Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to Far East), Iran, Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Micaria coloradensis Banks, 1896 – Alaska, Canada, United States
Micaria constricta Emerton, 1894 – Canada, United States, Svalbard, Russia (Northern Europe to Middle Siberia)
Micaria corvina Simon, 1878 – Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Israel
Micaria croesia L. Koch, 1873 – Australia (New South Wales)
Micaria cyrnea Brignoli, 1983 – France (Corsica), Italy, Greece
Micaria delicatula Bryant, 1941 – United States
Micaria deserticola Gertsch, 1933 – United States, Mexico
Micaria dives (Lucas, 1846) – Europe, North Africa, Turkey, Israel, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to Far East), Iran, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Pakistan, India, China, Korea, Japan
- Micaria dives concolor (Caporiacco, 1935) – Pakistan (Karakorum)
Micaria donensis Ponomarev & Tsvetkov, 2006 – Ukraine, Russia (Europe)
Micaria durbana Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Zambia, South Africa
Micaria elizabethae Gertsch, 1942 – Canada, United States
Micaria emertoni Gertsch, 1935 – Canada, United States, Mexico
Micaria everest Liu & Zhang, 2025 – China (Himalaya)
Micaria faltana Bhattacharya, 1935 – India
Micaria felix Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Cameroon, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa
Micaria formicaria (Sundevall, 1831) – Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to Far East), Iran, Kazakhstan, China
Micaria foxi Gertsch, 1933 – Canada, United States
Micaria fulgens (Walckenaer, 1802) – Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to South Siberia), Iran, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, China (type species)
Micaria funerea Simon, 1878 – Spain, France (Corsica), Bulgaria, Russia (Caucasus)
Micaria gagnoa Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Mozambique
Micaria galilaea Levy, 2009 – Israel
Micaria ganzi Liu & Zhang, 2025 – China
Micaria geralt Liu & Zhang, 2025 – China (Himalaya)
Micaria gertschi Barrows & Ivie, 1942 – Canada, United States
Micaria gomerae Strand, 1911 – Canary Islands
Micaria gosiuta Gertsch, 1942 – United States, Mexico
Micaria gulliae Tuneva & Esyunin, 2003 – Russia (Europe), Kazakhstan
Micaria guttigera Simon, 1878 – Portugal, Spain, France
Micaria guttulata (C. L. Koch, 1839) – Europe, Russia (Europe to Far East), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
Micaria icenoglei Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States
Micaria idana Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – Canada, United States
Micaria ignea O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872 – Cape Verde, Canary Islands, Algeria, Tunisia, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Yemen, Israel, Syria, Azerbaijan, Iran, Central Asia
Micaria imperiosa Gertsch, 1935 – United States, Mexico
Micaria inornata L. Koch, 1873 – Australia
Micaria japonica Hayashi, 1985 – Russia (Far East), Korea, Japan
Micaria jeanae Gertsch, 1942 – United States, Mexico
Micaria jinlin Song, Zhu & Zhang, 2004 – China
Micaria koingnaas Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – South Africa
Micaria kopetdaghensis Mikhailov, 1986 – Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan
Micaria langtry Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States
Micaria lassena Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States
Micaria lata Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Namibia, South Africa
Micaria laticeps Emerton, 1909 – Canada, United States
Micaria laxa Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – South Africa
Micaria lenzi Bösenberg, 1899 – Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to South and north-eastern Siberia), Iran, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, China
Micaria lindbergi Roewer, 1962 – Afghanistan
Micaria longimana Suzuki, 2022 – China, Japan (Ryukyu Is.)
Micaria longipes Emerton, 1890 – Canada, United States, Mexico
Micaria longispina Emerton, 1911 – Canada, United States
Micaria marchesii (Caporiacco, 1936) – Libya
Micaria marusiki Zhang, Song & Zhu, 2001 – China
Micaria medica Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – Canada, United States
Micaria mediospina Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – South Africa
Micaria mexicana Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – Mexico
Micaria micans (Blackwall, 1858) – Europe, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to South Siberia), Kazakhstan, Central Asia, China
Micaria mongunica Danilov, 1997 – Russia (South Siberia)
Micaria mormon Gertsch, 1935 – Canada, United States, Mexico
Micaria nanella Gertsch, 1935 – United States, Mexico
Micaria nivosa L. Koch, 1866 – Europe, Russia (Europe to South Siberia), Kazakhstan, China
Micaria nye Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States, Mexico
Micaria otero Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States, Mexico
Micaria pallens Denis, 1958 – Afghanistan
Micaria palliditarsus Banks, 1896 – United States, Mexico
Micaria pallipes (Lucas, 1846) – Azores, Madeira, Mediterranean, Russia (Europe), Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Iran, Central Asia, China
Micaria palma Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States
Micaria palmgreni Wunderlich, 1980 – Finland
Micaria paralbofasciata Song, Zhu & Zhang, 2004 – China (Himalaya)
Micaria parvotibialis Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Senegal
Micaria pasadena Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – United States, Mexico
Micaria plana Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Ethiopia
Micaria porta Platnick & Shadab, 1988 – Canada, United States
Micaria pulcherrima Caporiacco, 1935 – Pakistan, India, Russia (South Siberia), China, Korea
- Micaria pulcherrima flava Caporiacco, 1935 – Pakistan (Karakorum)
Micaria pulicaria (Sundevall, 1831) – Europe, Georgia, Russia (Europe to Far East), Kazakhstan, China, Japan, Alaska, Canada, United States
Micaria punctata Banks, 1896 – United States
Micaria quadrata Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Ethiopia
Micaria quinquemaculosa Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Namibia, South Africa
Micaria riggsi Gertsch, 1942 – Canada, United States
Micaria rivonosy Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – Madagascar
Micaria rossica Thorell, 1875 – Alaska, Canada, United States, Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to Far East), Kazakhstan, Iran, Central Asia, Mongolia, China
Micaria sanipass Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – South Africa
Micaria scutellata Booysen & Haddad, 2021 – South Africa
Micaria seminola Gertsch, 1942 – United States
Micaria seymuria Tuneva, 2004 – Kazakhstan
Micaria silesiaca L. Koch, 1875 – Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Russia (Europe to South Siberia)
Micaria siniloana Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – Philippines
Micaria sociabilis Kulczyński, 1897 – Europe, Turkey, Caucasus (Russia, Azerbaijan)
Micaria subopaca Westring, 1861 – Europe, Russia (Europe to South Siberia, Kamchatka), Georgia, Iran
Micaria tarabaevi Mikhailov, 1988 – Kazakhstan
Micaria tersissima Simon, 1910 – South Africa
Micaria triangulosa Gertsch, 1935 – United States
Micaria triguttata Simon, 1884 – Portugal, Spain, France, Algeria
Micaria tripunctata Holm, 1978 – Northern Europe, Italy (Alps), Russia (Europe to Far East), China, Alaska, Canada
Micaria tuvensis Danilov, 1993 – Russia (Central Asia, South Siberia), Kazakhstan, China
Micaria utahna Gertsch, 1933 – Canada, United States
Micaria vinnula Gertsch & Davis, 1936 – United States
Micaria violens Oliger, 1983 – Russia (Far East)
Micaria xinglongi Liu & Zhang, 2025 – China (Himalaya)
Micaria xizang Liu & Zhang, 2025 – China (Himalaya)
Micaria ya Liu & Zhang, 2025 – China
Micaria yeniseica Marusik & Koponen, 2002 – Russia (Middle Siberia, Kamchatka)
Micaria yeti Liu & Zhang, 2025 – China (Himalaya)
Micaria yunshani Liu & Zhang, 2025 – China (Himalaya)
Micaria zonsteini (Mikhailov, 2016) – Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan

References

"Gen. Micaria Westring, 1851". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
Wunderlich, J. (2017). "Descriptions, notes and synonyms of some mainly Mediterranean and Macaronesian spiders (Araneae) of various families". Beiträge zur Araneologie. 10: 315.
Breitling, R. (2017). "Public DNA barcoding data resolve the status of the genus Arboricaria (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)". Arachnologische Mitteilungen. 54: 26.
Haddad, C. R.; Bosmans, R. (2013). "Synonymy of the North African spider genus Castanilla Caporiacco, 1936 with Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)". Zootaxa. 3734 (3): 397–399. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3734.3.10. PMID 25277923.
Murphy, J. (2007). Gnaphosid genera of the world. British Arachnological Society, St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
Wunderlich, J. (1980). "Revision der europäischen Arten der Gattung Micaria Westring 1851, mit Anmerkungen zu den übrigen paläarktischen Arten (Arachnida: Araneida: Gnaphosidae)". Zoologische Beiträge. 25 (1979): 238.
Westring, N. (1851). "Förteckning öfver de till närvarande tid Kände, i Sverige förekommande Spindlarter, utgörande ett antal af 253, deraf 132 äro nya för svenska Faunan". Göteborgs Kungliga Vetenskaps och Vitterhets Samhälles Handlingar. 2: 25–62.
Platnick, Norman I.; Shadab, Mohammad U. (1988). "A Revision of the American Spiders of the Genus Micaria (Araneae, Gnaphosidae)". American Museum Novitates (2916): 1–64.
"Family Gnaphosidae (Flat-bellied Ground Spiders)". Spiders of Sungai Tawau. Retrieved 2016-09-28.

External links

Citizen science observations for Micaria at iNaturalist

[wsc-1] "Gen. Micaria Westring, 1851". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-16.

[Wund2017-2] Wunderlich, J. (2017). "Descriptions, notes and synonyms of some mainly Mediterranean and Macaronesian spiders (Araneae) of various families". Beiträge zur Araneologie. 10: 315.

[Brei2017-3] Breitling, R. (2017). "Public DNA barcoding data resolve the status of the genus Arboricaria (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)". Arachnologische Mitteilungen. 54: 26.

[Hadd2013-4] Haddad, C. R.; Bosmans, R. (2013). "Synonymy of the North African spider genus Castanilla Caporiacco, 1936 with Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)". Zootaxa. 3734 (3): 397–399. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3734.3.10. PMID 25277923.

[Murp2007-5] Murphy, J. (2007). Gnaphosid genera of the world. British Arachnological Society, St Neots, Cambridgeshire.

[Wund1980-6] Wunderlich, J. (1980). "Revision der europäischen Arten der Gattung Micaria Westring 1851, mit Anmerkungen zu den übrigen paläarktischen Arten (Arachnida: Araneida: Gnaphosidae)". Zoologische Beiträge. 25 (1979): 238.

[West1851-7] Westring, N. (1851). "Förteckning öfver de till närvarande tid Kände, i Sverige förekommande Spindlarter, utgörande ett antal af 253, deraf 132 äro nya för svenska Faunan". Göteborgs Kungliga Vetenskaps och Vitterhets Samhälles Handlingar. 2: 25–62.

[Plat1988-8] Platnick, Norman I.; Shadab, Mohammad U. (1988). "A Revision of the American Spiders of the Genus Micaria (Araneae, Gnaphosidae)". American Museum Novitates (2916): 1–64.

[Wong2016-9] "Family Gnaphosidae (Flat-bellied Ground Spiders)". Spiders of Sungai Tawau. Retrieved 2016-09-28.

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Micaria Temporal range:

female Micaria sp.

male M. beaufortia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Gnaphosidae
Genus:	Micaria Westring, 1851¹
Type species
M. fulgens (Walckenaer, 1802)
Species
127, see text
Synonyms¹
Arboricaria Bosmans, 2000²³ Castanilla Caporiacco, 1936⁴ Epikurtomma Tucker, 1923>⁵ Micariolepis Simon, 1879⁶