Steatoda borealis (male)

Description:

These usually dark spiders have in most species a white line around the anterior back, in addition to other lines or spots.

Habitat:

False Black Widow Spiders are usually found in walls, fences and the bark of trees. False Black Widow Spiders are also common in and around dwellings and gardens as well as under rocks and wood. These spiders construct an irregular tangle of sticky silken fibers. As with other web-weavers, these spiders have very poor eyesight and depend mostly on vibrations reaching them through their webs to orient themselves to prey or warn them of larger animals that could injure or kill them.

Notes:

Many spiders of the genus Steatoda are often mistaken for widow spiders and are known as false black widows; however these are significantly less harmful to humans. They are not aggressive. Some species of Steatoda actually will prey on widows, as well as other spiders which are considered hazardous to humans.