Subject: What spider is this?
Location: Southern Spain
April 10, 2013 3:42 am
Hello!
Just curious what this spider is. Although it didn’t look like it was going to tear my face off or lay eggs in my eyes (so I wasn’t too worried), it was slightly different to most spiders I’ve come across, and I was wondering if you knew what it was?
Relatively small, maybe an inch long at most, quite slender, jet black and didn’t seem to be all that good at climbing walls. Very large teeth in comparison to the rest of it’s body.
(Not the best picture, sorry!)
Thanks!
Signature: Scott

Spider

Hi Scott,
As you indicated, your photo is quite blurry, but it does reveal some interesting features, including the large pedipalps that indicate this is a male spider.  We believe it might be an Ant Mimic Spider in the family Corinnidae.  We are requesting assistance from Mandy Howe who volunteered to help us with spider identifications.

Mandy Howe identifies Cobweb Spider
Hi Daniel,
The Spain spider with the large palps and constricted abdomen looks a lot like something in the genus Coleosoma, of family Theridiidae.  They’re cobweb spiders that also seem to mimic ants, though only the males look like this. The females of the genus look more like a regular cobweb spider with a bulbous abdomen.
We have some Coleosoma in North America that you can compare images to: http://bugguide.net/node/view/51778/bgpage.
However, to my knowledge, the only species in that genus that might be found in Spain is the cosmopolitan Coleosoma blandum.  If it’s not that species, then I’m not sure what it would be in Spain. It could be some other genus in the same family.  Unfortunately, my experience with spiders found in Spain is somewhat limited.  Based on a checklist of Iberian Spiders (by Cardoso & Morano 2010), I don’t see Coleosoma blandum listed, but it is considered a cosmopolitan species, so I think it can pop up all over the place.
That’s the best I can do just based on the silhouette of the spider, at least. But I’ve showed it to the British Arachnological Society listserv, so I might be able to change/correct that ID if anyone replies.  There are folks on there that are more familiar with Spanish and European spiders.  So stand by and I’ll let you know if/when someone replies.

0   I like This

Related posts:

Cobweb Spider in Germany Cobweb Spider Cobweb Spider, but what species??? Cobweb Spider

Subject: Male black widow?
Location: Squamish, B.C.
March 10, 2013 2:48 pm
Hello,
I found this spider in my garage. After photographing it, I took him on hike into the woods. I released him into an area with lots of downed trees/logs and leaves.
Is it a black widow?
Thank you!
P.S– In the first photo, he is playing dead because I put a cup over him (I think I startled/scared him).
Signature: Julia

False Black Widow

Hi Julia,
We believe this is a False Black Widow, Steatodoa grossa, and according to BugGuide:  “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.”

False Black Widow

0   I like This

Related posts:

False Widow Not True but False Widow False Widow Black Widow

Subject: Dewdrop Spider
Location: Laurens County, SC, USA
October 29, 2012 10:39 am
I found this tiny spider on the web of an orbweaver. I’m pretty sure it is one of the dewdrops, but cannot make further ID.
Signature: Gene Ott

Possibly Dewdrop Spider

Hi Gene,
This does resemble the Dewdrop Spiders from the genus Argyrodes posted to BugGuide in shape, but in coloration, it is different.  There is also a resemblance to another kleptoparasite genus of Cobweb Spiders posted on BugGuide, Neospintharus, formerly classified as Argyrodes.  Kleptoparasites are organisms that steal food from other creatures.  A Dewdrop Spider, according to BugGuide, “steals small insects from the orb webs of other spiders, as well as pillages large prey items that have already been caught and often predigested by the host spider.”   We will post it with a tentative identification and see if any of our readers can provide additional information.  Thanks for sending this interesting submission.

Daniel,
Thank you very much.  I will check the site to see what occurs.
Gene

0   I like This

Related posts:

Dewdrop Spider and Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver Spider Wasp captures Spider Spider Wasp, possibly Tachypompilus species Possibly Spider Wasp and Possibly Orbweaver: Food Chain from Congo

Subject: Possible Brown Widow in Massachusetts?
Location: Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
July 7, 2012 12:56 pm
I’m not good with spiders, so she might just be another run-of-the-mill orbweaver. She just seemed a little different than the rest; her longer legs and her oddly marked abdomen is what caught my eye.
I saw she had babies (of course I thought they were the cutest things in the world), and I tried to take a picture the best I could. She was up in the corner, so I couldn’t get different angles. It’s a bit blurry, because I had my telephoto lens on.
Can you bug guys tell me what she is? Thanks!
Signature: -Terra

Common House Spider with egg sacs and spiderlings

Hi Terra,
Like the Brown Widow, this Common House Spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum, is in the Cobweb Spider, family Theridiidae, but unlike the Widows, it is not considered to be dangerous.

1   I like This

Related posts:

Common House Spider feasts on Skink Fishing Spider or Common Water Spider from Australia Male Southern House Spider, NOT Recluse Spider in Arizona House Spider and Nephila clavipes