Red house spider

Fact Box Species: Nesticodes rufipes (QM) Family: Theridiidae Body length: female: 7 mm male: about 3 mm Habitat: This species builds a small, tangled web in dark corners if inside a house or under rims of garden pots and similar structures; its round egg sac is often found nearby, the web also serving as a retreat Toxicity: This species is said to be capable of causing some local pain and accidental bitings are likely to occur in the same manner as for the redback spider Latrodectus hasseltii

Side view In its web

The main distinguishing characteristics of this theridiid are the dark brown and slightly mottled, globular abdomen and the red-brown colour of the legs and front half of the spider.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Achaearanea tepidariorum and Latrodectus hasseltii.