Steatoda grandis https://bugguide.net/node/view/889023 This is one of the less common Cobweb Spiders in North America. We only receive photos of it from a few states, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
You are quite welcome. They look like Black Widows because they are in the same family, Theridiidae. The venom strength is vastly different though. I think the markings on this species are interesting too, they resemble a small plant’s opposite leaf or flower bud pattern. To predators the pattern may look like 6 large eyes in low light. The markings on some Steatoda spiders reflect light too…so 6 glowing big eyes to predators and a piece of a little plant to prey.
Spider markings are often significant for camouflage and useful for attracting or intimidating insects and other spiders.
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Steatoda grandis https://bugguide.net/node/view/889023 This is one of the less common Cobweb Spiders in North America. We only receive photos of it from a few states, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
Thank-you, we see one or two a year and at a distance they look like Black Widows. The markings are very interesting.
You are quite welcome. They look like Black Widows because they are in the same family, Theridiidae. The venom strength is vastly different though. I think the markings on this species are interesting too, they resemble a small plant’s opposite leaf or flower bud pattern. To predators the pattern may look like 6 large eyes in low light. The markings on some Steatoda spiders reflect light too…so 6 glowing big eyes to predators and a piece of a little plant to prey.
Spider markings are often significant for camouflage and useful for attracting or intimidating insects and other spiders.