Steatoda bipunctata
Encyclopedia
Steatoda bipunctata is a species of cob-web spider
, of the genus Steatoda
, in the family Theridiidae
.
It is common in North America
and Europe
and may be found in proximity to human structures, such as basements or sheds. A nickname for this arachnid is the Rabbit Hutch Spider, since rabbit hutches often make a suitable habitat. The Steatoda bipunctata is similar in size and shape to the Black Widow spider of the genus Latrodectus and can thus be mistaken for it, although its bite is significantly less dangerous to humans. For this reason, species of the Steatoda genus are commonly called 'False Widows'.
The abdomens of both sexes is bulbous and brownish in colouration, with two black spots on the upper-side. These spots give the spider its Latin name bi- (two) and -punctata (spots). It shares this name with the species of Ladybird Adalia bipunctata. The underside of the abdomen of the Rabbit Hutch Spider reveals a most interesting pattern resembling the infinity sign. The female abdomen is light brown and often shiny compared to the males.
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
, of the genus Steatoda
Steatoda
The spider genus Steatoda, in the family Theridiidae, includes over 120 recognized species, distributed around the world ....
, in the family Theridiidae
Theridiidae
Theridiidae is a large family of spiders, also known as the tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders and comb-footed spiders. The diverse family includes over 2200 species in over 100 genera) of three-dimensional space-web-builders found throughout the world...
.
It is common in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and may be found in proximity to human structures, such as basements or sheds. A nickname for this arachnid is the Rabbit Hutch Spider, since rabbit hutches often make a suitable habitat. The Steatoda bipunctata is similar in size and shape to the Black Widow spider of the genus Latrodectus and can thus be mistaken for it, although its bite is significantly less dangerous to humans. For this reason, species of the Steatoda genus are commonly called 'False Widows'.
The abdomens of both sexes is bulbous and brownish in colouration, with two black spots on the upper-side. These spots give the spider its Latin name bi- (two) and -punctata (spots). It shares this name with the species of Ladybird Adalia bipunctata. The underside of the abdomen of the Rabbit Hutch Spider reveals a most interesting pattern resembling the infinity sign. The female abdomen is light brown and often shiny compared to the males.