I need to know what kind of spider is outside my house?!?

Question

I walked outside a second ago and saw a spider retreating into it's web. I can't get to the spider because it looks like it's actually living behind one of the pieces of siding and I have no idea how to take it off. Anyways, I'm not sure whether I saw the underside or the back (I'm assuming it was the back) but I saw bright red. When I tore the web (funnel shaped, and pretty good sized) apart to try to figure out what it was, the web was EXTREMELY thick. I was poking at it with a stick and there were areas that I couldn't break. I also noticed at least 5 other dead spiders in the web. From the looks of it they were either wolf spiders or grass spiders. I live in South Carolina, charleston area and I'm worried that this may be poisonous. It's less than a foot from our front door (where I was sitting and smoking) and we have a small dog and cats. Does anyone have any idea what this could be, or links to sites I could find some more information? I would really appreciate it!

I think y'all are right. I didn't think it was a black widow at first, but now looking into it a little more I'm thinking it was. I'm off to the store to get something to kill it right now!

Yeah, definitely a black widow. I bought spider killing spray and it dropped dead. Ugh...creepy.

Answer 1

Does it have eight legs?
This link about the best I can do;
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC2505.htm
I know the Black Widow likes dark places. Normally they found under buckets and lawnmowers. Places dark and secluded.

Answer 2

It might have been a red-backed jumping spider. The red-backed jumping spider is one of the largest and most encountered jumping spider of western north America. It is not to be confused with the unrelated venomous spiders. When threatened, these animals can inflict a quite painful bite in self defense, but with no medical consequences. they are also found around peoples' houses and in meadows.

Answer 3

It could be one that is called the "American house spider" or "common house spider"
Scientific name:Achaearanea tepidariorum
it's not a threat to people

I will post a few links for you to look at:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/6919

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/spiders/common_house_spider.htm

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Achaearanea_tepidariorum.html

http://spiders.entomology.wisc.edu/Theridiidae/Achaearanea/tepidariorum.html

http://spiderpharm.com/edu/spiders/acht/acht.htm

Answer 4

sounds like a black widow becareful there poisonous

Answer 5

IT SOUNDS LIKE A BLACK WIDOW SPIDER, AND THEY ARE POISON !!!