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Purple tree tarantula8/6/2023 Ĭyclosa conica (Araneidae) – “trashline orbweaver” Īraneus diadematus (Araneidae) – “cross orbweaver”, “European garden spider”Īnother European invasive, this spider can become quite imposing in size and density in the late fall. Parasteatoda tepediorum (Theridiidae) – “American house spider”Ī common invasive, believed to be from South America. Left: Steatoda grossa, Right: Steatoda nobilis. These spiders are roughly the same size and shape as a black widow, but are brown with a faint purple sheen. ![]() Two other European invasives, these spider seems to be displacing our native black widows in urban areas. Steatoda grossa & Steatoda nobilis (Theridiidae) – “false widow” Males and immature females are not solid black, and have attractive marble-like patterns on their abdomens. The red hourglass may be yellow or orange, and may not actually be shaped like an hourglass. This is the only spider that you are likely to encounter in California whose venom is medically significant. Latrodectus herperus (Theridiidae) – “black widow” When disturbed the spiders often gyrate in their webs. Pholcus can be distinguished from Holocnemus (“marbled cell spider) by the grey/brown concolorous abdomen. Sometimes confused with “daddy long-legs”, which are not spiders, but rather Opiliones (“harvestment”). The common synanthropic cellar spiders in California are European invasives, native pholcids are much smaller. Pholcus phalangioides & Holocnemus pluchei (Pholcidae) – “cellar spider” ĭysdera crocata (Dysderidae) – “Sow-bug killer”Ī mediterranean invasive, this spider is usually found under wood or bark. ![]() As with tarantulas, the spiders are usually safely hidden in their burrows, and wandering males are the most likely to be encountered. The similar Calisoga thevenetti is less frequently seen. There is considerable variation in color and form. Very frequently encountered in the Oakland hills. “I can’t believe it’s not a tarantula!” Often mistaken for a tarantula, Calisoga is smaller and unable to climb smooth surfaces. Ĭalisoga longitarsus ( Nemesiidae) – “Calisoga spider,” “False tarantula.” Males are often seen wandering in search of females in the fall. The females live in burrows and are occasionally dug up in gardens. (Theraphosidae) – “Tarantula”Īll of California’s native tarantulas are in the genus Aphonopelma. How to identify and misidentify a brown recluse spiderĪphonopelma spp. Spiders also are accused of biting people (or worse), but very rarely has this ever been witnessed. Note that to the untrained eye many spiders look similar – having a spider in hand will be much easier to identify than a fuzzy cell phone photo and trying to remember what it looked like running away. Six to eight weeks later between 50 and 120 nymphs hatch.A collection of commonly encountered spiders in the Bay Area, assembled by Dr. ![]() A few months after mating the female lays up to 120 eggs in a cocoon. During mating the females become very aggressive towards the males. These spiders eat mostly crickets, cockroaches, meal worms, waxworms and darkling beetles, but they also can catch small rodents. This climbing species builds its nests primarily in hollows in the trees, sometimes in the vicinity of epiphytic plants. Behavior Īvicularia purpurea is primarily an arboreal spider. The abdomen is velvet-black and covered with stinging hairs. The tarsal tufts are pale cream-pink in colour. The tarsal and metatarsal scopulae are very dark brown. The long setae covering the legs and palps are dark red-brown. In daylight this spider discloses a quite intense purple-blue iridescence on the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax and on legs, palps and chelicerae. Avicularia purpurea can reach a length of about 13 centimetres (5.1 in), Avicularia.
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