Runcinia grammica

Runcinia grammica (sometimes also referred to as Runcinia lateralis)[1] is a species of spiders of the genus Runcinia, with a distribution of "Europa, Near East to Iran, Russia, Central Asia, China, Japan. Introduced to St. Helena, South Africa."[2]

A Runcinia grammica with its prey

Runcinia grammica
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Thomisidae
Genus:	Runcinia
Species:	R. grammica
Binomial name
Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837)

The species generally lives in peat bogs, fens, and meadows,[3][4] although it has also been known to inhabit urban areas[5] They usually mature to adulthood in the summer.[4] They have short, broad bodies,[6] which are covered in hair and spines.[7] They have clear muscular corrugation on their sides,[7] and, on small raised bumps on their heads, eight small eyes.[6] Males are usually 2.5–3.5mm in length, females 4-6mm.[4] They are predators,[5] and eat various species of insects.[4]

Unlike many spiders, they do not spin a web of any kind. Instead, they prowl on the ground, as well as climbing plants and flowers, to find their prey.[6] They can move forwards, backwards, and sideways.[6]

Runcina grammica has reportedly been sighted in various areas of Southeastern Spain[8] and Southwestern Portugal.[9][10] They are also known to inhabit Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Caucasus,[11] Italy,[12] India,[7] South Africa, St. Helena,[13][14][15] Turkey,[15][14] France,[16] and in the Carpathian Basin.[17] They are among the most common species of spiders in Portugal.[14] They are one of the many species preserved at the Mountain Zebra National Park, in South Africa.[18]