Kingdom: Animalia


Phylum: Arthropoda 


Class: Arachnida 


Order: Araneae


Family: Theridiidae


Genus: Steatoda 


Species: S. capensis 


Scientific name: Steatoda capensis


Common name: False katipo spider, Black cobweb spider, False widow spider.

They are a spider with a body length up to 7 mm.

Originating from South Africa it is now commonly found in New Zealand.  They can be found

  under logs or in any dark places. It is much more common than the katipo. They catch small crawling insects. 
Unlike the katipo the bite of the false katipo spider is not harmful, but it stings and the area aches for an hour. It may also cause headaches or nausea. Small blisters may occur around the bite site.

Steatoda capensis False katipo spider Black cobweb spider.JPG


Steatoda capensis False katipo spider Black cobweb spider-001.JPG


Below is photo on a False Katipo that has been feeding on another False Katipo
False Katipo thats been feeding on another false katipo.JPG


Steatoda capensis when disturbed they will curl up and stay motionless.

This photo is of a one playing dead upside down.

False Katipo playing dead.JPG


Another spider in defence position.
Black Cobweb Spider Steatoda capensis -005.JPG

Female on some firewood. One egg nest is completed and she is building another that is just visible under her abdomen.
False katipo spider Steatoda capensis .JPG

Steatoda capensis and her egg sacs

Steatoda capensis False katapo and egg sacs.jpg 

A young Steatopda capensis
1- young Steatoda capensis. 6mm . 6mm spider.JPG

A male Steatoda capensis with distintive markings.
Male Steatoda capensis False katipo spider.JPG

False Katipo Steatoda capensis male.JPG Side view of a male Steatoda capensis

Steatoda capensis male 5mm body-008.JPG
Sean Hann's 1994 paper (NZ J Zool: 21:2, 225-238) on Steatoda states S. capensis has a variety of possible markings, including a yellow band as in photo below.
Black Cobweb Spider Steatoda capensis .JPG



The underside of a spider.
Black Cobweb Spider Steatoda capensis -013.JPG 

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/