Cobweb Spiders
False black widow (Steatoda grossa)
Web: 3D web with messy threads and often vertical threads with glue on the lower part towards the substrate (“gum footed threads”).
Habitat: Mainly in dark places in buildings (preference for cellars, where webs are constructed close to the cellar window), but also outdoors near solid structures. The spider usually hides in crevices.
Hot to recognize:
- often (but not always) with lighter triangles on the backside of the abdomen
- larger than the other Steatoda species
- male is considerably smaller than female.
Looks similar to:
- is often mistakenly regarded as a Black widow, but lacks the red hourglass-shaped figure on the underside of the abdomen and is usually also much smaller
- is distinguishable from the Triangulate combfoot by having non touching lighter triangles on the abdomen.
Size
♀: 6,5-10mm
♂: 4-6mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: August till September
Rabbit hutch spider (Steatoda bipunctata)
Web: 3D web with messy threads and often vertical threads with glue on the lower part towards the substrate (“gum footed threads”). The web sometimes has a matlike appearance.
Habitat: Mostly close to or in buildings, but also regularly outdoor in hollow trees, away from buildings. The spider often hides in a crevice.
Herkennen aan:
- glossy, coffeebean like appearance, especially when the spider feigns death after being disturbed and retracts its legs
- often with light stripe over the middle of the abdomen
- male with strikingly large pedipalps
Looks similar to:
- upon close inspection not really to be confused with any other species.
Size
♀: 4,5-7mm
♂: 4-5,5mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: April till November
Triangulate combfoot (Steatoda triangulosa)
Web: 3D web with messy threads and often vertical threads with glue on the lower part towards the substrate (“gum footed threads”). The web sometimes has a matlike appearance.
Habitat: Mainly in dark places in buildings, contrary to the False black widow also in dry places such as attics. Or in living rooms on the underside of furniture, where you can often find egg sacs. Regularly also outdoors near solid structures. The spider usually hides in crevices.
How to recognize:
- lighter triangles almost always present on the backside of the abdomen.
- legs often ligther coloured and more or less clearly annulated.
Looks similar to:
- the False black widow spider, but the lighter triangles on the abdomen of the Triangulate combfoot (Steatoda triangulosa) are touching.
Size
♀: 3,5-7mm
♂: 3,5-5mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: June till October
