Assistance on ID?

[Venom]

I've tentatively ID'd this on another forum as Achaearanea tepidariorum, but wasn't sure. To my eyes at least, it doesn't match 100% with the A. tepid I've seen in person, or the I've found pics online, but bears a resemblance to L. geometricus ( please look especially at the fourth pic ). The spider's location is Pennsylvania, which is outside of the currently known boundaries of L. geometricus. But then, it is pretty warm there in summer, and not that severe in winter. Widows being hardy, I wondered if they may have spread still further. Anyway, the pictures left me with some doubt, so I hoped you might be able to help me clear this up. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

Here are the pics:

http://skinnybunny.com/spiders/guy3-1.gif
http://skinnybunny.com/spiders/guy3-2.gif
http://skinnybunny.com/spiders/guy3-3.gif
http://skinnybunny.com/spiders/guy4-3.gif
http://skinnybunny.com/spiders/guy4-4.gif
http://skinnybunny.com/spiders/guy4-5.gif

 

[WithCerberus]

Latrodectus geometricus should still have the red hour glass shape on it from what I've read. Just check for that. Also were there any eggsacs?

bobby

 

[cichlidsman]

i cant say this enough the skinney leged spiders freak me out, but i still like to look at them. i hope you did'nt find it in your house.

 

[Brian S]

It looks like a house spider to me which is also a cobweb spider.

 

[Venom]

@ Cerberus: If you check the fourth pic in that list, you will see what resembles a Latrodectus hourglass. The shape of widows' hourglasses varies widely, another reason I'm still unsure.

@Chichlidsman: yeah they do look creepy, but that's a good thing in my book . The spider is not in my house, but I kindof wish it were, so I could get a better look at it!

@Brian S: Yes, it looks like a house spider, but is it? That's what I'm trying to determine. Does anyone see a feature/ marking on this spider that confirms it as one or the other?

 

[WithCerberus]

You didn't see any eggsacs with it? If you saw those IDing it would be pretty easy. You could always see what it feels like to get bit by it

Bobby

 

[Venom]

Cerberus, I'm trying to identify this spider for someone on another forum. The spider is over 700 miles from my location, so I've only had pics to look at, none of which included an eggsac. I've tentatively ID'd it as a harmless species, but for HIS sake I want to be absolutely sure.

 

[WithCerberus]

Ive been looking at a lot of pics rather closely and noticed that L.geometricus only has bands on the joints of its legs. anyways hope that helps some.

Bobby

 

[jsloan]

From what I've read spiders in the genus Latrodectus have the anterior and posterior lateral eyes separated from each other by about the diameter of one eye. Unfortunately, it's not possible to determine this from your pictures; but, if you can look at this spider under a microscope that would enable you to determine if it is, in fact, a Latrodecus sp.

John Sloan