Summary for Steatoda nobilis (Araneae)

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National Distribution

 
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Steatoda nobilis Copyright: Peter Harvey
Identification difficulty rating: 3
Name: Steatoda nobilis
Authority: (Thorell, 1875)
Order: Arachnida: Araneae
Family: Theridiidae
IUCN status: LC

Records: 1517
First Record: 1879
Latest Record: 2023

1992-on hectads: 427
Pre-1992 hectads: 5
Total hectads: 427

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About this species

Recorded altitude range
0m to 200m

Species text

Distribution
The spider became well established in various places along the south coast of England from Cornwall to Essex, and has increasingly been found established inland and further north. There are two recent records in Scotland, both believed to be the result of introduction with goods, and where long-term survival of any population is uncertain.

In Europe the species is known from Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal. It is not listed in recent checklists for other western and central European countries.

Habitat and ecology
This spider is found mainly around houses, though more rarely indoors. It constructs a scaffold web that differs from others of the genus in the exceptional strength of the silk and in the tubular retreat that is at least partly concealed in a deep crack or hole. The species has been known to bite a human but the spider has received a lot of unjustified and inaccurate media statements about its danger to humans and its spread in Britain. Bites to humans are unlikely to happen in normal circumstances since the spiders are usually confined to their web, in cracks in walls or under window sills. The bite in most people would be little different to a bee sting, and there are currently few definite recorded occurrences in Britain since 1979, many reports almost certainly being the result of non-spider-related causes which have incorrectly been assumed to be the result of 'false widows'. The males are mature in the summer and autumn, the females probably throughout the year.

Status
The species was first reported from near Torquay by Pickard-Cambridge (1879) and described from Britain by Snazell & Jones (1993). It is assumed to be introduced and is now naturalised in southern counties of England. It has been frequent in the southern coastal counties of England for a great many years, and is nowadays frequent and abundant in many areas of southern England and increasingly further north.

Original author of profile: P. Lee

Text based on Harvey, P.R., Nellist, D.R. & Telfer, M.G. (eds) 2002. Provisional atlas of British spiders (Arachnida, Araneae), Volumes 1 & 2. Huntingdon: Biological Records Centre.  References

Adult Season

Adult Season Data (based on 778 records with adult season information)


Habitats

background methodology

Broad Habitat Data (based on 531 records with habitat information)

Broad subhabitat Data (based on 17 records with subhabitat information)

Structural Habitat Data (based on 72 records with structural habitat information)

Habitat Detail and Method (based on 217 records with habitat detail and method information)

Recorded management for locations with Steatoda nobilis

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Steatoda nobilis

Images

L female nobilis
L female nobilis
Stratoda Nobilis
Stratoda Nobilis
Steatoda nobilis in Cambridge Shed
Steatoda nobilis in Cambridge Shed
Steatoda nobilis missing legs Hartlepool
Steatoda nobilis missing legs Hartlepool
Backdoor fly catcher
Backdoor fly catcher
Spider.in.house.2021-09-26-62
Spider.in.house.2021-09-26-62
Suspected Steatoda nobilis in garden
Suspected Steatoda nobilis in garden
Steatoda nobilis on window
Steatoda nobilis on window
Steatoda nobilis - Lechlade Glos.
Steatoda nobilis - Lechlade Glos.
False widow (Devon)
False widow (Devon)
top corner of conservatory
top corner of conservatory
Steatoda nobilis Peterborough
Steatoda nobilis Peterborough
False Widow (found in my bed)
False Widow (found in my bed)
False widow in the kitchen sink
False widow in the kitchen sink
False Widow Spider Horley
False Widow Spider Horley
Steatoda Nobilis Northwich Cheshire
Steatoda Nobilis Northwich Cheshire
Steatoda nobilis 27th August Kent UK
Steatoda nobilis 27th August Kent UK
Noble false widow in Shefford
Noble false widow in Shefford
Steatoda nobilis on Scaffold
Steatoda nobilis on Scaffold
Noble false widow in garden 05.09.18
Noble false widow in garden 05.09.18
Noble false widow on fruit cage 27.08.18
Noble false widow on fruit cage 27.08.18
Steatoda nobilis - Maidstone area - Kent
Steatoda nobilis - Maidstone area - Kent
Steatoda nobilis Binfield Berks
Steatoda nobilis Binfield Berks
False Widow in my bedroom
False Widow in my bedroom
Steatoda nobilis Orkney
Steatoda nobilis Orkney
Steatoda nobilis Tynemouth 1
Steatoda nobilis Tynemouth 1
Steatoda nobilis (Tynemouth)
Steatoda nobilis (Tynemouth)
Steatoda nobilis male Gloucester
Steatoda nobilis male Gloucester
kitchen dorma window frame
kitchen dorma window frame
Steatoda nobilis Gloucester 1
Steatoda nobilis Gloucester 1
Steatoda Nobilis in London
Steatoda Nobilis in London
suspected adult female Steatoda nobilis
suspected adult female Steatoda nobilis
Noble False Widow
Noble False Widow
Steatoda nobilis Grays Inn Road
Steatoda nobilis Grays Inn Road
False Widow Spider in Man Cave
False Widow Spider in Man Cave
S Nobilis Male
S Nobilis Male
S Nobilis juvenile
S Nobilis juvenile
Steatoda nobilis emerging from retreat
Steatoda nobilis emerging from retreat
Steatoda nobilis web on rosebush
Steatoda nobilis web on rosebush
Steatoda nobilis in retreat - only abdomen and legs visible
Steatoda nobilis in retreat - only abdomen and legs visible
With web in Felixstowe 2
With web in Felixstowe 2
With web in Felixstowe
With web in Felixstowe
Noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis )
Noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis )
Steatoda nobilis epigyne
Steatoda nobilis epigyne
Steatoda nobilis eye arrangement
Steatoda nobilis eye arrangement
Steatoda nobilis female
Steatoda nobilis female
rear view
rear view
false widow Cambridge
false widow Cambridge
Juvenile Steatoda nobilis
Juvenile Steatoda nobilis
Steatoda nobilis on tile floor
Steatoda nobilis on tile floor
Conservatory visitor 21 Oct 2014
Conservatory visitor 21 Oct 2014
Steatoda nobilis (Noble false widow) Somerset
Steatoda nobilis (Noble false widow) Somerset
Noble False Widow 27th August 2014
Noble False Widow 27th August 2014
Larger Steatoda nobilis in Brampton
Larger Steatoda nobilis in Brampton
Steatoda nobilis in Brampton
Steatoda nobilis in Brampton
Noble False Widow Spider
Noble False Widow Spider
Steatoda Nobilis pic 2
Steatoda Nobilis pic 2
Steatoda nobilis wrapping may bug-4
Steatoda nobilis wrapping may bug-4
Steatoda nobilis wrapping may bug-3
Steatoda nobilis wrapping may bug-3
Steatoda nobilis wrapping may bug-2
Steatoda nobilis wrapping may bug-2
Steatoda nobilis wrapping may bug-1
Steatoda nobilis wrapping may bug-1
Steatoda nobilis SD14
Steatoda nobilis SD14
Found in the bathroom
Found in the bathroom
Purbrook False Widow
Purbrook False Widow
False widow 1st November
False widow 1st November
Possible False Widow Spider in Huntingdon
Possible False Widow Spider in Huntingdon
Steatoda nobilis - Gloucester no.2
Steatoda nobilis - Gloucester no.2
Steatoda nobilis - Gloucester
Steatoda nobilis - Gloucester
Steatoda Nobilis - Belvedere
Steatoda Nobilis - Belvedere
Steatoda nobilis - Harrogate
Steatoda nobilis - Harrogate
Steatoda nobilis female in web
Steatoda nobilis female in web
Steatoda nobilis female showing sheet and tubular retreat
Steatoda nobilis female showing sheet and tubular retreat
Steatoda nobilis in Web
Steatoda nobilis in Web
Steatoda nobilis
Steatoda nobilis
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