Red-legged Purseweb in northern MASS?

[sandrac]

I've had two nasty looking spiders in my house over the few weeks. The best way I can describe it is that it looks like a big black ant with 8 red legs. The closest I can find on the 'net is the American red-legged puseweb spider.

Like I said, I've had two of them in my house, and I think my cat may have been bitten by one on the weekend (she was foaming at the mouth for over 12 hours but she's fine now).

I live in northern Massachusetts. I can't seem to find much information on these spiders, to see if they're even native to the area (if they are, they're probably endangered). If they are native, they seem to want to be outside - why are they in my house? Would they be coming in on tomatoes?

Thanks.

 

[Thoth]

Form the description it sounds like Sphodros rufipes. (Another cool pic showing threat display) are native to the eastern USA, though aren't normally found this far north but not unheard of. They are endangered through out their range. The usually build tube webs against the side of trees. You probably found males in search of females.

There are also ones with black legs, Sphodros niger, apparently common out on the cape. Another pic.

They belong to Family Atypidae (aka atypical tarantulas).

They have a rather painful bite, though not particularly venomous.

 

[WithCerberus]

Dysdera crocata

Do a seach for Dysdera crocata. these also have reddish legs and are much more common than Sphodros rufipes.

bobby

 

[sandrac]

I looked at the different pictures of the Dysdera crocata, and I definitely have pursewebs. The body of the spiders I've had here are distinctly black (like a shiny black carpenter ant), and the legs are red.

They aren't particularly large; I have a bunch of orb weavers in my tomato garden that are quite a bit bigger, and I do what I can to not disturb their webs when I'm out picking. I'd say these pursewebs I have are no larger than a half inch in length.

I really don't mind having spiders *around* my house, but I don't like them inside my house - specifically in certain rooms like the bedroom (I don't want them crawling on me when I'm asleep *shudder*), bathroom (too personal :8o ), and kitchen/dining room.

Now, I need to know how they're getting inside... Hmmmmm.

Thanks for the feedback so far

 

[TRowe]

Like I said, I've had two of them in my house, and I think my cat may have been bitten by one on the weekend (she was foaming at the mouth for over 12 hours but she's fine now).

Sounds like an encounter with a toad, to me. Our dogs have been unfortunate enough to suffer the wrath of the common toad on several occasions. The symptoms seem to be general oral irritation with the production of copious amounts of foam. Yuck.

Tim

 

[sandrac]

If she was an outdoor cat, I'd be inclined to agree with you on that one. But she is an indoor cat, who only goes outside on a leash, and hadn't been out that day or the previous one, due to the rain (the rain would get her wet, and she just won't tolerate that )

When I called the vet to ask about it, among other things, they said it was probably something she ate, and that depending on what it was it may have stung or bitten her in the mouth. It was that night that I saw the second of my 2 scary spiders in the house.

Cat aside, though, the purseweb creeps me out. I just want them to stay outside - As I mentioned, I don't care how many spiders I have outside the house