What type of spider do you think it is?

Question

In our garage in VA we have a little cluster (about 3 or 4) spiders that are exactly the same shape as a black widow but pale beige and slightly different markings. One actually managed to capture a huge - around 4 times as big as it- spider and slowly wrapped it. What type of spider can catch things so much bigger than itself in suburban VA? I thought they only went for things smaler than it. Worried if it can kill something much bigger than itself is it a danger to my little girls? No idea about ameican spiders as Im from the UK where the most deadly thing is a london taxi. Thanks

Answer 1

Well, without a photo it's a guess, but I'd put my money on the American version of the House Spider - Achareana tepidareorum. It spins a messy web often down fairly low, but can be anywhere that things will come into contact with a web (Ive seen them up around the edges of porch roofs, nooks and crannies up the side of houses and chimneys, etc.). It likes houses, both inside and outside, and it very commonly captures and enjoys things quite a bit larger than it, including wasps (I've even seen one chowing down on a Gypsy Moth caterpillar that somehow got snagged in the web). As a matter of fact, widows are in the same family (Theridiidae), but none of the other Theridiid spiders seem to be dangerous to people. The markings vary quite a bit, but generally these spiders are a fairly light color with darker markings, but some can look like they're generally dark with lighter blotches. They're similar to widows in shape and structure, but like almost all the Theridiids, they're spindly and weak-looking. Widows are big, burly spiders in comparison - they're a lovely glossy black color, with Arnold Schwartzenegger-level legs in comparison with the thread-like wispy legs of these house spiders. For what it's worth, the only time I've ever been bitten by one of these spiders, in many years of living in close proximity, was one time when I lay (lied? laid?) *ahem* _reclined_ on one that had incautiously wandered across my bed. I felt the bite, but that's about all you could say for it - there was almost no reaction at the site. The spider, alas, didn't hold up very well to being reclined on.

Answer 2

These could be black widow spiders. There's some variation in coloration. All of them have a red marking or two on the underside of the abdomen, though.

If not, they may be another species of cob weavers. Your daughters should be taught not to mess with the webs.

Answer 3

It could very well be a black widow. You can get insecticide especially for spiders.. Also, check at a marina or boat supply place they should have a specialty spray for use in boats.

Answer 4

I'd have to see picture to know exactly what it was - I'm not familiar with "foreign" spiders - I'm from New York!!!!

Answer 5

It could be a Brown Recluse spider.