Katipo

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• Adult females have a body length of 8–10 mm (about 0.3–0.4 in).1
• The red katipō, found in the South Island and lower North Island, has a large black, shiny abdomen with a white-bordered orange or red stripe on top, and a red hourglass-shaped marking underneath.1
• The black katipō, found in the upper North Island, has no upper red or orange stripe and is somewhat lighter in colour.1
• Males are 4–5 mm long, white with black stripes and red hourglass-shaped markings.1

Sovint es confon amb: Steatoda species, which share the same habitat, are very similar and are called "false katipō" in New Zealand. The katipō has a less shiny, more tapered abdomen, and its side eyes are further apart. It is also similar to the redback, but the katipō has only short hair-like spines on its abdomen, while the redback has a mix of long and short ones.1