
Comments & ID Thoughts
My guess is that this species is (Latrodectus hasselti) or the Redback Spider. There is a red hour glass shape on the ventral abdomen and long red stripe down the dorsal part of the abdomen. This is my best guess and there is a serious complication with this identification as it is stated to be native to Australia and New Zealand. This spider and subsequent photo are found and taken in Idaho, United States. I would like to know why there is a red stripe down the back if it is not in fact, Latrodectus hasselti.
It was found in a cool and damp corner next to my daughter's window. It was found in a very tough and sticky web.
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Mar 28, 2019
- Photographed: Mar 28, 2019
- Spider: Latrodectus hesperus (Western Black Widow)
- Location: Buhl, Idaho, United States
- Spotted Outdoors: Man-made structure (building wall, fences, etc.)
- Found in web?: Yes
- Attributes: Dorsal
Hi, if you found these spiders in Idaho, they will both be the western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus.
T one with the stripe down the dorsum would likely be sub adult. that will probably vanish when the spider molts to penultimate or full adult.
Thank you! I called it hasselti for the purpose of clarification. So a more accurate description would be a developing or (juvenile) Latrodectus hesperus?