Steatoda capensis
Encyclopedia
Steatoda capensis is a spider
originating from South Africa
. Its common names include the black cobweb spider, brown house spider, cupboard spider and due to its similarities to the katipo
spider it is commonly known as the false katipo in New Zealand. Common throughout Southern Africa, it has been introduced into other countries and is now present in Australia
and throughout New Zealand
. It is a small spider, usually an all-over shiny black it may have a small bright red, orange, or yellow patch near the tip of the abdomen along with a crescent shaped band near the front of the abdomen.
It is thought that in some instances Steatoda capensis can bite humans causing a syndrome known as steatodism; which has been described as a less-severe form of latrodectism
. Bites can be quite painful and can cause a general malaise
for about a day.
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
originating from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Its common names include the black cobweb spider, brown house spider, cupboard spider and due to its similarities to the katipo
Katipo
Latrodectus katipo, the katipo, is an endangered species of spider native to New Zealand. A member of the genus Latrodectus, it is related to the Australian redback spider, and the North American black widow spiders. The species is venomous to humans, capable of delivering a comparatively dangerous...
spider it is commonly known as the false katipo in New Zealand. Common throughout Southern Africa, it has been introduced into other countries and is now present in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and throughout New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is a small spider, usually an all-over shiny black it may have a small bright red, orange, or yellow patch near the tip of the abdomen along with a crescent shaped band near the front of the abdomen.
It is thought that in some instances Steatoda capensis can bite humans causing a syndrome known as steatodism; which has been described as a less-severe form of latrodectism
Latrodectism
Latrodectism is the clinical syndrome caused by the neurotoxic venom , that can be injected by the bite of any spider that is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus, in the family Theridiidae....
. Bites can be quite painful and can cause a general malaise
Malaise
Malaise is a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness, of being "out of sorts", often the first indication of an infection or other disease. Malaise is often defined in medicinal research as a "general feeling of being unwell"...
for about a day.