Red house spider

Fact Box Species: Nesticodes rufipes (QM) Family: Theridiidae Body length: female: 7 mm male: about 3 mm Habitat: This species builds a small, tangled web in dark corners if inside a house or under rims of garden pots and similar structures; its round egg sac is often found nearby, the web also serving as a retreat Toxicity: This species is said to be capable of causing some local pain and accidental bitings may occur in the same manner as for the redback spider Latrodectus hasseltii

Side view In its web Another female? Another female

The main distinguishing characteristics of this theridiid are the dark brown and slightly mottled, globular abdomen and the red-brown colour of the legs and front half of the spider.

Known range: Recorded as being associated with domestic housing all down the east coast of Australia and also in Launceston.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Parasteatoda tepidariorum and Latrodectus hasseltii.