Steatoda foravae
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| Grootvadersbos False Button Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Theridiidae |
| Genus: | Steatoda |
| Species: | S. foravae |
| Binomial name | |
| Steatoda foravae Dippenaar-Schoeman & Müller, 1992[1] | |
Steatoda foravae is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and commonly known as the Grootvadersbos false button spider.[3]
Steatoda foravae is known only from South Africa,[2] where it has been recorded from two provinces at altitudes ranging from 125 to 932 m. Locations include Grootvadersbos near Heidelberg, Silaka Nature Reserve, Swartberg Nature Reserve, and Tulbagh.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Steatoda foravae constructs three-dimensional webs in dark places, usually close to the substrate.[3]
The species has been found in large numbers in the indigenous forest Grootvadersbos, which forms part of the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area. These spiders build their webs beneath logs, stones, and other debris, under bark, or in crevices in boulders, rock faces, and tree trunks up to a height of 2 m.[3]
Venom
Investigation into the relative toxicity to laboratory mice showed that S. foravae is at least 10 to 12 times less venomous than the black button Latrodectus indistinctus.[3]
