Southwest US - Unusual spider. Need help identifying.

Ok, so I have searched all over the web for this particular spider. It is NOT a Redback or a Black Widow. I live in the mountains of New Mexico at 6500+ ft. elevation. I know what Diamondback snakes, Rattlesnakes , Black Widows , etc, look like very well.

It is about 3/8" to 1/2" in size. It has a "fuzzy" body and legs. It's a "flat black" with a VERY bright red upper back half. In other words it's completely black, but the back half of it's body (the tail so so speak) is completely red,very bright. It's not a stripe or spots or anything else. It's whole back top half is SOLID red.

Now, I've lived here for about 5 years and we have all manner of spiders, snakes,coyotes, and critters. I've NEVER seen this variety before and now I've killed two in less than a week. One on my swamp cooler, and one today crawling up my living room curtain.

The red is what worries me. While I know it's not ALWAYS true, tradtionally red on a spider signifies danger.

I can find NOTHING on this spider on the web. I keep coming up with links to the redback and black widow. I have discovered a LOT of mis-informed people out there who think the black widow has the fiddle mark on it's back , when it is , in fact , on it's belly.

Please help me to identifiy this spider as poisonous or not. I tend to leave the non-poisonous ones alone as they eat annoying things. I think they are helpful. However if this type is poisonous, I will be having my house sprayed. Thanks.

Michael

Is it this guy? This seems to be one of the only pictures of one with a bright red back.

http://entomology.unl.edu/images/spiders/steatoda_borealis.jpg

Also found these pictures on Bug Guide that someone in Colorado took, but doesn't seem anyone has posted a response as to what type it is.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/207197/bgimage

This message was edited Sep 13, 2011 7:25 PM

This sounds like a jumping spider in the genus Phidippus. Like most spiders, it is venomous but not dangerous. See the 'sticky' on spider bites at the top of this forum.

Here's is one of the Jumpers. Is one of these listed above your spider?

http://bugguide.net/node/view/79972

It's similar to the first link Brandon posted, but has fuzzy legs and body like the link posted by Kwanjin. Also it is , in body, like a black widow. Legs that fold under it and similar body styles.

But none of those appear to be it. It's back is a very bright red, not orange or maroon.

However the area that's colored in the pics you folks have posted is the correct area , but as I said, it's bright red there with a fuzzy body.

Next time I see one, I will attempt a pic before killing it.

I don't think these are a jumping spider variety though, as the first slid down a strand of silk from my swamp cooler motor and the second ran all around my curtain while I took several swings to hit it. Neither attempted to jump.

Thank you for the replies so far. I'm hoping to figure this one out.

Michael

That behavior does not rule out jumping spiders. Look at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartwildlife/5094280679/ for another possibility.

That looks pretty much exactly like my spider. Oh, found another in the swamp cooler last night.

The front body hump looks a little strange compared to mine,but otherwise , virtually identical!

Now , is it poisonous to humans, or?

Thanks Flap!

Michael

No, the Phidippus genus is non-harmful to humans. In fact, the Jumping Spiders are a fascinating bunch. All spiders are venomous but the bite of these is generally extremely mild.