Possible False Widow?

[Reluctant Widow Mother]

I took these photos a couple of years ago. The spider in question, if it is a true Latrodectus hesperus, was rather small for being this dark. I have, however, seen one very small true black widow—hourglass and all—that was completely black. As far as I know L. geometricus is not present in our area. When the brown widow comes, the first specimens will be found in one of the small towns in our rural county, not on a hiking trail in the woods. Plus, this specimen seems too "shiny" to be a brown widow.

To me, it doesn't quite look like a true black widow because the legs seem too short. Then again, it could have just had a huge meal. I don't know. I have a short video of it, but nothing that definitively shows an hourglass or lack of hourglass. At one point, I think the hourglass—if present—could have been visible, but nothing conclusive.

Wanna speculate?

 

[The Snark]

Bulging abdomen curving forwards and rounded bottom = steatoda. Look at the profile. Latrodectus abdomen goes straight up in front and the end of the abdomen is pointed.

 

[Reluctant Widow Mother]

Bulging abdomen curving forwards and rounded bottom = steatoda. Look at the profile. Latrodectus abdomen goes straight up in front and the end of the abdomen is pointed.

I think it seems to fit requirements for Steatoda, yes? There's a slight point, but the abdomen is very round overall and curves forward over the cephalothorax. What species I wonder???

Here's a link to the video:

LH

 

[Reluctant Widow Mother]

This looks about right: False Widow Spider (Steatoda grossa) - Insects | Candide <--clicky-clicky