Ground spider

5721   Vernon, B.C. July 2nd. I walked into my bathroom at night and flicked on the light. I caught this thing running hurriedly back and forth scroll the medicine cabinet shelf. I think it was startled by the light. After a couple passes, I watched it wiggle it’s spinners from side to side and descend a thread, when it escaped into a crevasse. I have never seen one before and am repulsed! Sorry I could not get a few more pictures.   -Robyn 

This is a very gravid female ground spider (family Gnaphosidae) in the genus Sergiolus, possibly S. montanus. This species shows considerable individual variation in colour pattern; see http://tinyurl.com/juoyle6 for a somewhat more slender example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.