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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynes » Antmimics and Ground Sac Spiders (Corinnidae) » Castianeira » Redspotted Antmimic (Castianeira descripta)
Photo#50720
black widow or ? - Castianeira descripta
Copyright © 2006 Tracey Etheridge

black widow or ? - Castianeira descripta
Helena, Shelby County, Alabama, USA
May 5, 2006
Size: 3/4" long overall
I found this spider in my spare bedroom on a blanket, and was alarmed to see the bright red markings on the abdomen. I know that black widows have red there, but this one is not in an hourglass shape. The underside is all black. Please help me identify. I live in North Alabama, and found the spider this morning. (Also note that the graph paper in the picture is a 1/4" grid )
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Contributed by Tracey Etheridge on 5 May, 2006 - 4:15pm
Last updated 14 May, 2006 - 10:25pm

Check out
Castianeira descripta - Red-spotted Antmimic, in the guide here and see what you think.
… john and jane balaban, 6 May, 2006 - 12:49pm login or register to post comments

No.
Pretty convincing mimic, though:-) This, I'm pretty sure, is a 'running spider' in the family Gnaphosidae (though that family has been split into additional families since I last looked). They do not build webs, overtaking prey on foot (tarsus?). Nice image of a nice specimen.
… Eric R. Eaton, 5 May, 2006 - 5:33pm login or register to post comments

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