Summary details for Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa)

Species Details

Species name: Steatoda grossa
Common name: Cupboard spider
Synonyms: Steatoda grossum, Steatoda hamatum, Steatoda versuta (Westring, 1851), Steatoda versutum (Blackwall, 1846), Teutana grossa (C.L. Koch, 1838)
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Theridiidae

Distribution

The spider is known from scattered locations across southern Britain becoming scarcer further north. It is widespread in western and central Europe, but not recorded from Norway.

Habitat and ecology

This spider is found most often in and around buildings but has also been taken in sheltered locations outdoors, e.g. in cracks in walls and on under-cliffs. The spider has been found in the sewer system in Leicester (J. Daws, pers. comm.). It constructs the scaffold webs typical of the genus and has been observed feeding on pill-woodlice Armadillidium. Adults have been found at most times of the year.

Status

The species was commonest in coastal areas of south-west England (Roberts 1995), but has increased in frequency in more recent years in the east and northwards. Original author of profile: P. Lee Text based on Harvey, P.R., Nellist, D.R. & Telfer, M.G. (eds) 2002. Provisional atlas of British spiders (Arachnida, Araneae), Volumes 1 & 2. Huntingdon: Biological Records Centre.

Stats

First recorded: 1900
Last recorded: 2025
Total records: 598
Total visits: 593

Conservation status

Steatoda grossa

Source	Reporting category	Designation	Date designated	Comments
A Review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22 (Sep 2017)	Red listing based on 2001 IUCN guidelines	Least concern	42979

Photos and media

Spatial distribution - hectad map

Click on one of the date ranges in the key to highlight that particular range. Click anywhere else on the map to go back to all three date ranges.

Thresholds:

Move mouse cursor over dot for info

Rejected records are excluded from this map. Unverified records are included.

Temporal distribution - records by year

Records that span more than one year are not included in this chart.