Help with spider ID please

Taryn · #1 (**permalink**) 24-04-2008, 11:44 PM

This is not a very good pic but a friend asked me to identify this spider but I'm not sure what it is. I thought it was a House Spider -Tegenaria gigantea but I am not certain, help please.

Venger · #2 (**permalink**) 25-04-2008, 12:07 AM

Well it's definitely a Tegenaria - sadly you can't really tell which species without a microscope (and even then...)

Taryn · #3 (**permalink**) 25-04-2008, 12:09 AM

Thanks,

I didn't think it was a good enough pic. I will see if he has any others.

Taryn · #4 (**permalink**) 25-04-2008, 01:07 AM

Sorry, he only had the one pic of it. I thought it looked like the spider I took a pic of last year which I assumed was a Tegenaria gigantea........but I'm not so sure now I have looked in the gallery.

Venger · #5 (**permalink**) 25-04-2008, 08:42 PM

Many species of Tegenaria look very alike, so much so that you can't id to species level from photos (this applies to many spiders) you need detailed shots of the palps or epigyne (the sex organs) to do that (actually you need a microscope on many)
Some speices of Tegenaria also hybridise which makes id'ing them even more difficult!

Taryn · #6 (**permalink**) 25-04-2008, 08:48 PM

Thanks Venger

I will remember that advice the next time I get a chance to take pics of spiders.
I do have an old Wild microscope but I have no idea if I would be able to attach a camera to it. Have you any idea where I could get some advice?

Venger · #7 (**permalink**) 25-04-2008, 10:29 PM

Not sure how to attach a microscope to a camera?
We do have some really good photographers on WAB - though they usually use macro lenses.
Obviously I've seen photos of the palps and epigynes, but I don't know how they did it

Sadly, to really see the sex organs you usually have to kill the spider and preserve it in alcohol.