#4415 · 🕷️ spiders & kin

Eastern Parson Spider

Herpyllus ecclesiasticus

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Steve Pelikan · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. © ben_1_c · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. © Elizabeth Nicodemus · CC BY-ND 4.0
4. © Bill Stitt · CC BY-NC 4.0
5. © Kamal-Neil Singh Dass · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. Westwood Ct, Allen, TX, US:© RandyB · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. Nepean, Ottawa, ON, Canada:© Nick Tinker · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. W Arrowood Pl, Peoria, IL, US:© Sarah Rae · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. Malletts Bay, Burlington, VT, USA:© Larry Clarfeld · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. Village Ct, Berlin, MA, US:© Tara Halwes · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

The spider species Herpyllus ecclesiasticus is commonly called the eastern parson spider , after the abdominal markings resembling an old-style cravat worn by clergy in the 18th century. It is mainly found in Central USA, with finds stretching from North Carolina to southern Alberta, Canada.

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 23,035iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
23,035 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1832 (194 years ago).

fact sheet

English: Eastern Parson Spider
scientific name: Herpyllus ecclesiasticus
class: Arachnida
order: Araneae
family: Gnaphosidae
sightings in NL: 0
sightings worldwide: 23,035
GBIF records in NL: 0
weight: —
length: —
lifespan: —
named: 1832 by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz

relatives· Gnaphosidae

Sources: iNaturalist taxon 130880, Wikidata Q4265292, GBIF 2132839, Wikipedia (EN), Wikipedia (NL). Intro text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.