Steatoda grossa
(False Black Widow)

Picture ID 49856

Picture of Steatoda grossa (False Black Widow) - Dorsal

Comments & ID Thoughts

Found it in my bed and I freaked out... can the spider hurt me?

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TangledWeb

Hi, I don’t know what it is, but that is good because we are more familiar with the dangerous spiders. As long as you don’t touch the spider with bare skin and press your skin against it (and why would you want to?!), it is harmless. Don’t leave her in your bed, in other words. You can safely catch a spider by putting a clear bowl or glass over it and sliding thin paperboard under it the bowl and spider. A piece of a cereal box would work well. Then you can carry your spider outdoors where she can eat… Read more »

ItsyBitsy

Hi, this is a False Black Widow, Steatoda grossa. Although it’s a common spider found in homes it’s not something you’d typically find in a bed so it got there by accident. If you see more you can reduce the number of spiders you find in your home by sealing off cracks around floors, doors, windows, foundation, etc., vacuum everywhere and empty the canister outside.

TangledWeb

Does it look pink and white because of the photo’s overexposure or can these be S.grossa’s natural colors?

ItsyBitsy

Purplish-brown and cream … I’ve seen a lot of submissions with that coloration, mostly natural. https://bugguide.net/node/view/1360882/bgimage

Additional Pictures

Picture of Steatoda grossa (False Black Widow) Enlarge Picture
Picture of Steatoda grossa (False Black Widow) - Dorsal Enlarge Picture
Picture of Steatoda grossa (False Black Widow) Enlarge Picture
Picture of Steatoda grossa (False Black Widow) - Male - Dorsal Enlarge Picture