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Comments & ID Thoughts
Is this a spider we need to be concerned about being in our house? We have a baby and we are worried there could be more and they could bite our baby. Is this possibly a black widow? The pattern on its back was brown, not red, but still a pattern like a black widow.
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Mar 18, 2019
- Photographed: Mar 18, 2019
- Spider: Steatoda triangulosa (Triangulate Cobweb Spider)
- Location: Argyle, Texas, United States
- Spotted Indoors: Other
- Found in web?: No
- Attributes: Dorsal
Apr 1, 2024
Apr 1, 2024
Okc, 
Hi, this is Steatoda triangulosa, a Triangulate Cobweaver. The name comes from the row of attached triangle markings down the abdomen. Yes, it is in the same family, Theridiidae, as Black Widows. They have very different venom though. Black Widows have venom that causes cellular death in large animals. Other cobweaver spiders have venom that is very toxic to insects, spiders, and other arachnids, such as ticks. These are often called “false widows.” Some false widows can kill Black Widows. Cobweaver spiders make true cobwebs. The webs are wispy, messy, random-looking and tend to get dusty. The catch is that… Read more »
Wow! Thank you!! What a relief it’s not a black widow! All of this information is SO helpful! It has occurred to me that my feelings about spiders stem from my ignorance… if I had knowledge like yours I wouldn’t be so scared of spiders! Again thank you for this wealth of information! Thank you for your time!!
You’re very welcome!