Summary details for Triangulate Cobweb spider (Steatoda triangulosa)

Species Details

Species name: Steatoda triangulosa
Common name: Triangulate Cobweb spider
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Theridiidae

Distribution

The species was first recorded in Britain from Leicester in 1996 (Daws 1997b). It is widespread in western and southern Europe but absent from Scandinavia.

Habitat and ecology

This species produces a scaffold web in and around houses where it feeds on crawling insects, especially ants. The males are mature in summer and autumn, the females possibly all year.

Status

The spider is probably an introduction. It should be looked for in centres of population in southern Britain. 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: 1996
Last recorded: 2025
Total records: 18
Total visits: 18

Conservation status

Steatoda triangulosa

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	Not Evaluated	42979	First recorded in 1996. Introduced and likely to remain synathropic if it becomes established.

Photos and media

Spatial distribution - hectad map

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Thresholds:

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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.