Help me id this creature

[peladac]

Hi,

I found this on my wall at night. I've seen pics of the black widow and the red back but this doesn't like like those. Any information would be helpful. PLEASE and THANK YOU!

[pitbulllady]

That is one of the Ant-Mimic Spiders, Castianeira descripta. I took a few photos of one of these, a mature male, a few weeks ago at a local park, and this was the first time I'd actually seen one myself. They're harmless to humans. This one I photographed did try to court my foot, though, with lots of bobbing and waving of his pedipalps, before suddenly coming to his senses and realizing that it was NOT a female spider!

pitbulllady

[Cheshire]

Many a time have I been confused for a female spider. I once shared a cell with a male blondi.

I don't like to talk about it.