Species Steatoda variata

Steatoda variata Gertsch, 1960

A highly variable species with 8 patterns showing in Gertsch, 1980. From full mid-dorsal stripe as shown in the image that we have on bugguide to a completely black abdomen. See page 26 of Gertsch 1980 for all eight patterns.

We are going to have issues separating this from A. pulcher where they overlap in AZ. The leg banding in A. pulcher may be key, but not sure at this point. - Pattern variable, color variable (orange carapace & reddish abdomen in UT, AZ and southward reddish brown carapace with blackish abdomen), a single median row of large dorsal spots (with small frontal paired ones often absent) separates this from the similar S. punctulata, longer legs in both sexes. Also easily mistaken for S. washona, but S. washona is a foothill/mountain species while S. variata is a desert species. The two spotted variation is found in the eastern range and the mid-dorsal spotted variation is found in the west.

(The spiders below may not be identified as S. variata at this time, they are just provided as pattern examples)

Best match I can find to the mid-dorsal spotted variation in Levi 1957 is

The best matches for Gertsch, 1960 are

(but not supposed to be found in CA) So what is that?

- variata china - very southern tip of TX to ne Mex (1)

UT, AZ, CO, NM, western TX, Mexico.(2)