False Black Widow - Steatoda grossa - female - Steatoda grossa

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae) » Steatoda » False Black Widow (Steatoda grossa)

Photo#359472

Copyright © 2009 S. E. Seater

False Black Widow - Steatoda grossa - female - Steatoda grossa -

Raleigh, near Rts 50 and US 70, Wake County, North Carolina, USA
December 18, 2009
Size: 11mm

ID based on

and others. Like a black widow in general appearance, but camera revealed that black was a shiny purplish-dark brown with tiny yellow dots dorsal, less dark and no red ventral. Found on chilly day just before first snow. She was inside a hose reel outdoors. She played dead most of the time, even allowing herself to be rolled upside down for photo of ventral side. Glad to have her around!

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False Black Widow - Steatoda grossa - female - Steatoda grossa - female

False Black Widow - - Steatoda grossa - female

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Contributed by S. E. Seater on 18 December, 2009 - 1:25pm

Nice specimen!

Did you collect her? If you did, I just thought I'd give you a heads-up that she looks gravid, so she may deposit eggs soon (if she is indeed carrying eggs), which would mean she needs an area to hang her egg sac (a plain ol' glass jar won't do unless you put some sticks or something in there). The other option for her abdomen being so bulbous is simply that she recently had a large meal. She is large and no doubt an adult and has been alive for quite a few years at least. Females can live up to 6 years. A very cool species! One of my favorites! (Probably why I blab about them whenever I get the chance!) :)

… Mandy Howe, 18 December, 2009 - 11:45pm

Thanks for the enthusiasm, Mandy.

I didn't collect her but put her back close to where I found her. There's no place in my yard that isn't great for a spider. May she live well and prosper.

… S. E. Seater, 19 December, 2009 - 6:43pm

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