About Marpissa pikei (G.W.Peckham & E.G.Peckham, 1888)
Marpissa pikei has a very elongated body shape, which allows it to hide by stretching along twigs or grass blades. When resting, it extends its first two pairs of legs in front of its body, and its remaining two pairs behind the body. Both sexes reach about 8 mm in length, not counting the legs. Males have a broad black median stripe that runs across the entire body, plus orange first legs and an orange carapace. Females have duller overall coloration, with a pale cream-colored abdomen speckled with black. This species is most commonly found on low grasses. Kaston (1981) notes that it can be easily swept from tall grasses, particularly in areas along seashores. In Kansas, adult Marpissa pikei are encountered from May through October.
