False Black Widow
ExploreInvertebrate
False Black Widow
steatoda grossa
The False Black Widow spider is a small, shiny spider that can be found in many places around your home! They are often mistaken for their more dangerous cousins, but they are generally harmless to humans.
Habitat: They prefer dark, sheltered areas like basements, garages, and under furniture.
Appearance
The False Black Widow is a glossy, dark brown to black spider, often with a subtle purple sheen. Females have a pale crescent or triangle on their abdomen, sometimes with lighter spots. It distinctly lacks the bright red hourglass mark seen on true black widows.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassArachnidaOrderAraneaeFamilyTheridiidaeGenusSteatoda
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Female False Black Widows can live surprisingly long, up to six years, laying many egg sacs in their lifetime!
Their smooth, glossy body can be mistaken for a shiny bead or a droplet of oil by accident!
These spiders can go for months without food, patiently waiting for their next meal to come along!
They sometimes eat other venomous spiders, like actual black widows, showing how tough they are!
Special abilities
Ability
Super Sticky Trapper
False Black Widows spin messy, tangled webs of strong silk that helps them trap unsuspecting insects and other spiders.
Ability
Venomous Bite
False Black Widows have a venomous bite that helps them quickly subdue their prey for an easy meal.
Measurements & details
- Length Cm
- 0.8 cm
- Web Size Cm
- 25 cm
- Weight G
- 0.05 g
- Lifespan Years
- 6 years
Diet & Feeding
These tiny hunters mostly eat other insects and spiders by trapping them in their messy webs!
Primary Foods
- Flies
- Cockroaches
- Woodlice
- Other spiders
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
hunts
House fly
Musca domestica
A common insect prey caught in their webs.
hunts
German cockroach
Blattella germanica
Known to prey on cockroaches found indoors.
hunts
Southern black widow
Latrodectus mactans
Can sometimes overpower and eat other spiders, including black widows.
eaten by
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Eurasian nuthatch
Sitta europaea
Spiders, including False Black Widows, are part of their diet.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Camouflaged
Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Venomous
Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting.
Also known as
Brown WidowCommon Widow SpiderDark Widow
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always avoid touching spiders and observe them from a safe distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is False Black Widow?
0.8 cm
How big is False Black Widow?
25 cm
How much does False Black Widow weigh?
0.05 g
How long does False Black Widow live?
6 years
What does False Black Widow eat?
These tiny hunters mostly eat other insects and spiders by trapping them in their messy webs!
Where is False Black Widow usually found?
They prefer dark, sheltered areas like basements, garages, and under furniture.
How does False Black Widow hunt?
Ambush
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