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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynes » Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae) » Steatoda » Steatoda grossa
Photo#170035
Tetragnathidae? - Steatoda grossa - female
Copyright © 2008 Ken Schneider

Tetragnathidae? - Steatoda grossa - Female
Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California, USA
February 17, 2008
Size: 4 mm
Found this spider under a log at a local park. Appears to key out to Tetragnathidae? Metellina?

Images of this individual: tag all
Tetragnathidae? - Steatoda grossa - female Tetragnathidae? - Steatoda grossa - female Tetragnathidae? - Steatoda grossa - female Tetragnathidae? - Steatoda grossa - female Tetragnathidae? - Steatoda grossa - female Tetragnathidae? - Steatoda grossa - female
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Contributed by Ken Schneider on 17 February, 2008 - 10:48pm
Last updated 20 February, 2008 - 6:25pm

Moved
Moved from Spiders.
… Ken Schneider, 20 February, 2008 - 6:25pm login or register to post comments

Perhaps
it is Steatoda grossa. Compare with .
… Lynette Schimming, 18 February, 2008 - 11:20am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks Lynette!
It seems like a pretty good match visually, and the eye arrangement would be fine for Therididae (sorry about the poor photo of eyes).

The only problem is that the legs of "my" spider had scattered, stout spines, which directs one away from theridids in the Ubick key... I will try to get some better photos of the legs and head, in case that helps.
… Ken Schneider, 18 February, 2008 - 12:27pm login or register to post comments

 
Lynette
is correct.
… Jeff Hollenbeck, 20 February, 2008 - 6:19pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks Jeff -
if you get time, it would be great if you could address the questions I had, so that I could do better next time...
… Ken Schneider, 20 February, 2008 - 6:26pm login or register to post comments

 
I don't have any keys,
but I have seen some Therididae with what I would call "stout spines". See this male.
… Lynette Schimming, 18 February, 2008 - 3:09pm login or register to post comments

 
I have to agree with the spines on that example!
and I still suspect that you are right - just trying to work through how I keyed this out wrong... I've added additional photos of the fourth tarsi and of the eyes and fangs in case they help with the ID. I can't see the "ventral comb of serrated bristles" that is supposed to be on tarsi IV in theridids, but I probably just don't know what to look for. Thanks again for trying!
… Ken Schneider, 18 February, 2008 - 11:47pm login or register to post comments

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