Ground spiders...

Course Scientist Vladimir Ovtsharenko studies ground spiders, presently Australian ground spiders. Ground spiders can be found almost everywhere around the globe. As Dr. Ovtsharenko explains more about his own research, the spiders he focuses on become the Spider of the Week.

Shunning the sun, ground spiders (or gnaphosids) are nocturnal hunters that prefer to be hidden during daylight and emerge from under stones, bark, or logs only at night to pursue prey. The gnaphosids, one of the largest spider families, are widespread, but their generally drab colors and their nighttime habits make these inconspicuous spiders hard to find and therefore hard to study. Comparatively little is known about these nocturnal predators.

How many species? About 2,000 known In your backyard? 250 North American species Around the world? Found on all continents, except Antarctica; temperate regions in particular

The ground spider...