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Species Steatoda grossa - False Black Widow

Blackish Spider - Steatoda grossa - female Steatoda sp. - Steatoda grossa - female Possible latrodectus hesperus? - Steatoda grossa S. grossa Spiderling - Steatoda grossa Steatoda grossa - male tub - Steatoda grossa - male Spider ssp. - Steatoda grossa - female Steatoda grossa - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Araneae (Spiders)
Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)
No Taxon (Entelegynae)
Family Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders)
Genus Steatoda
Species grossa (False Black Widow)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Teutana grossa
Identification


Some diagnostic drawings:

General habitus


Male palp:


Female epigyne:


Eye arrangement (male):
Range
Imported from Europe; In North America it has now been found in states along the east and west coasts as well as those bordering the Great Lakes. Specimens have also been collected in Colorado. It's also considered a cosmopolitan species and is found in other countries all over the world.
Habitat
In and around homes and buildings.
Season
Males mature in summer and autumn; adult females can be found year-round.
Food
Any arthropods that are snagged in the cobweb. This species is a specialist on pill bugs and real black widow spiders.
Life Cycle
Female Life Cycle:

Remarks
The bite of this spider might produce symptoms that are similar but much less severe than those of a black widow bite. In some cases blistering may form at the site of the bite along with physical discomfort that lasts for several days.
Internet References
Auburn.edu - range.
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu - How to Manage Pests of Homes, Structures, People, and Pets by R. S. Vetter