Home / Purseweb Spiders / Red-legged Purseweb(Sphodros rufipes)

Red-legged Purseweb(Sphodros rufipes)

The red-legged purseweb spider is mostly indigenous to the southern parts of the United States. However, photographed evidence also marks its presence in the midwestern and northeastern states of Indiana, New Jersey, Missouri, Minnesota, and Massachusetts.

Scientific Classification

Red Legged Purseweb Spider

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Female spiders are around 0.9 inches (2.5 cm) and males are smaller.

Color: Both the sexes have a black body, with the males being shinier. Sexual dimorphism is observed in the color of their legs. They appear black in females, but red or reddish-orange in males.

Other Characteristic Features: It has downward-pointing fangs and not crossed ones.

Red Legged Purseweb Spider Size

Eggs

The eggs are small and oval laid in sacs.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings replicate the adult red-legged purseweb species. Most of them have a reddish body with a black head.

The Web

They build tube-like webs near the base of the tree, 6 – 10 inches long.

Are Red-legged Purseweb Spiders Venomous

There have large fangs and may bite when provoked. However, their venom is not harmful to humans.

Quick Facts

Distribution United States and Canada
Habitat Temperate forests and urban areas, wooded lands, and grassy vegetations
Web Type Tube-like
Diet Caterpillars, wasps, crickets, worker ants, and beetles
Lifespan Female: 7 years
Male: Not recorded
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed

Did You Know

  • The Latin word ‘rufipes’ means red in English, and the red legs the males have give them their name.

The red-legged purseweb spider is mostly indigenous to the southern parts of the United States. However, photographed evidence also marks its presence in the midwestern and northeastern states of Indiana, New Jersey, Missouri, Minnesota, and Massachusetts.

Red Legged Purseweb Spider

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Female spiders are around 0.9 inches (2.5 cm) and males are smaller.

Color: Both the sexes have a black body, with the males being shinier. Sexual dimorphism is observed in the color of their legs. They appear black in females, but red or reddish-orange in males.

Other Characteristic Features: It has downward-pointing fangs and not crossed ones.

Red Legged Purseweb Spider Size

Eggs

The eggs are small and oval laid in sacs.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings replicate the adult red-legged purseweb species. Most of them have a reddish body with a black head.

The Web

They build tube-like webs near the base of the tree, 6 – 10 inches long.

Are Red-legged Purseweb Spiders Venomous

There have large fangs and may bite when provoked. However, their venom is not harmful to humans.

Quick Facts

Distribution United States and Canada
Habitat Temperate forests and urban areas, wooded lands, and grassy vegetations
Web Type Tube-like
Diet Caterpillars, wasps, crickets, worker ants, and beetles
Lifespan Female: 7 years
Male: Not recorded
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed

Did You Know

  • The Latin word ‘rufipes’ means red in English, and the red legs the males have give them their name.