Nesticodes rufipes
(Red House Spider)

Picture ID 55921

Comments & ID Thoughts

I'm inclined to guess that this is some type of "Widow" Spider? However, looking at several of the photos I've taken a couple days apart I cannot see any Red but I think I see white? Also, she/he is in our family room next/slightly behind a couch in the corner by the Sliding glass doors which makes it an excellent food source for the Spider since Florida always has flying bugs coming in constantly! I need to know if this Spider may be pregnant too because if so, I need to relocate due to our Dog.?

Submitted by:
gre8t
Submitted: Apr 4, 2019
Photographed: Mar 30, 2019
Spider: Nesticodes rufipes (Red House Spider)
Location: Port Saint Lucie, Florida, United States
Spotted Indoors: Other
Found in web?: Yes
Attributes:

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BugmanDan

April 4, 2019 8:09 pm

Hi, no red hourglass on the ventral abdomen would likely be a false black widow, Steatoda species.
Certainly female but can’t tell if gravid. Just let her stay, if she makes an egg sac, you can remove that from her web with tweezers and relocate it. Eggs may hatch in 2 weeks, even at that, hardly any will survive.

Gre8t

Photo Owner

Reply to BugmanDan

April 4, 2019 8:18 pm

Hello, I’ve not heard of a “False” Black Widow before? I think I see a white marking on her? And why wouldn’t her Eggs hatch if I gently remove the sac and relocate?

BugmanDan

Reply to Gre8t

April 4, 2019 11:21 pm

Eggs themselves hatch inside the sac then with good conditions, the first instar spiderlings emerge.
That in itself takes 10 days to 2 weeks. Possibly 200 spiderlings competing for food, without scale insects to feed them, they become cannibalistic. Many simply starve. Maybe a dozen will survive to adult if they find someplace protected with food and water around.
The suggested red house spider is very similar and close cousin to false widows, same would apply.
About false widows:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/6932