What kind of spider is this?

[pyesetz]

Found in my basement. Google Image Search thinks it's a wolf spider, but there are many species in that category. This one is notable for being red in the front, grey in the back. Seen in my basement for the first time today.

Comments

[rain_gryphon]

I don't think that's any sort of Wolf Spider. They all look a good deal sturdier, like miniature Tarantulas, and are camouflaged. From the spider database ( https://www.insectidentification.org/spiders.asp ), I'd say #77, Sow-bug Killer. The other possibility, one supposes, is #15, Brown Recluse, but their territory isn't shown that far north, and they seem much leggier.

[pyesetz]

Thanks!  The brown recluse typically has a longitudinal line on the cephalothorax, which this one doesn't have.  It also has a dull colour while this one is translucent — but maybe it just moulted and that's why it was where I could see it?

The sow-bug killer (Dysdera crocata) definitely looks quite a bit like my basement friend.  They typically have the two-colour scheme like mine and they have the translucent cephalothorax.  And my damp basement often contains many sowbugs for them, along with silverfish, earwigs, and millipedes, which they also eat. The Great Lakes region is nowadays part of their range (although they are originally from the Mediterranean).  Wikipedia disagrees with InsectIdentification.org, claiming that the sowbug killer does not actually prefer sowbugs; they're just the most common prey in its habitat.

Looks like you solved it!  Please have some Internet points!