Steatoda grossa
(False Black Widow)

Hi, this is a cobweaver spider in family Theridiidae. Black widows are in the same family but the black widow venom is vastly more harmful to mammals than most of the other spiders in the family. These others have venom that is very potent to other arachnids and insects. I have two dogs that stick their snouts into spider territory every day. There are cobweavers (Steatoda species) in their dog pen. I don’t worry about it. I worry about ticks though. If any of your dogs has ever had an allergic reaction to an insect or spider bite that would… Read more »