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Photo#1314600
Bad day - Steatoda

Bad day - Steatoda
Alameda, Alameda County, California, USA
November 15, 2016
Size: bl ~1/2 in.
Spider suddenly attacked Bilobed Looper I was trying to photograph with little success due to bad conditions (deep undergrowth in rocky native plant garden with heavy overcast sky). My first impulse was to save the moth, so I shooed the spider and it ran away. The spider didn't have a chance to bite the moth, but the web was so welded to its wing that there was no way to get it off and the moth further damaged its wing as it struggled to get away. Family expectations caused me to have to leave the scene with some bad photos, a mortally wounded moth and a pi$$ed-off spider. I think the correct action would have been just to film the fatal encounter. But I am hoping I can at least come out with an ID for the spider.

Images of this individual: tag all
Bad day - Steatoda Bad day - Steatoda Bad day - Steatoda

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

False black widow-Steatoda grossa
Steatoda grossa. I've kept a few of these in captivity and I can say that once the spider starts wrapping it up there is no saving it since this species will coat the first few threads with drops of a glue-like substance to ensure that the prey stays caught. I've seen a few other species in its family do this as well.

 
False Black Widow
Thanks K, you saved the day!

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