Spider ID please?

[Allyn]

This spider is currently sitting in a glass in my kitchen. It was found in a wooden box I bought off ebay. It is brown, about an inch long including the legs and had has two lighter brown triangles on its back: the one nearest its head is slightly larger. Below the smaller triangle is a light brown brown dash, smaller than both triangles.

Many thanks.

Al

[demicav]

I would go with false widow spider, Seatoda nobilis.

[Venger]

Looks more like Steatoda grossa, rather than S.nobilis.
It's a native species, just pop it somewhere dark, like your attic or shed.

[Wild-Woman]

They're selling some strange things on ebay then!

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

They're selling some strange things on ebay then!

Wooden boxes?

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by demicav

I would go with false widow spider, Seatoda nobilis.

I too would suspect nobilis though it would be handy knowing the size of it (leg's exluded).

[Venger]

Originally Posted by wildherbalian85

I too would suspect nobilis though it would be handy knowing the size of it (leg's exluded).

Are we looking at the same books?
Although I've chosen strong patterned images, they can vary quite a bit - some almost losing all patterning and looking quite black.
First off, where are you in the UK Allyn?

Steatoda nobilis still has a limited distribution (though it will be spreading northward due to the climate):
Steatoda nobilis
Steatoda grossa is more common and widespread (comparatively)
Steatoda grossa

Obviously, arguing is fairly pointless as you can't confirm from a photo, you'll need to see the epigyne for confirmation.


Steatoda nobilis photo by Wightman



Mislabelled, but S.nobilis photo by Hereward


Steatoda grossa
Photo © B.Gariel

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Venger

Are we looking at the same books?
Although I've chosen strong patterned images, they can vary quite a bit - some almost losing all patterning and looking quite black.
First off, where are you in the UK Allyn?

Steatoda nobilis still has a limited distribution (though it will be spreading northward due to the climate):
Steatoda nobilis
Steatoda grossa is more common and widespread (comparatively)
Steatoda grossa

Obviously, arguing is fairly pointless as you can't confirm from a photo, you'll need to see the epigyne for confirmation.


Steatoda nobilis photo by Wightman



Mislabelled, but S.nobilis photo by Hereward


Steatoda grossa
Photo © B.Gariel

It doesn't matter so much as to were he is from what does matter is were the box he ordered came from as that is were the spider was located.

S.nobillis are bigger we have a few in our conservatory and one of them (think it might have been killed earlier in week) has a body length of apprx 20mm. And i do live in a location were they are and have been well established for over 100 years.

[wildherbalian85]

Steatoda grossa will have 3 triangular patterns on its back.

Steatoda Nobilis has a mosaic pattern rather then the 3 triangles.

I hope this helps you in distinguishing the two.

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Allyn

This spider is currently sitting in a glass in my kitchen. It was found in a wooden box I bought off ebay. It is brown, about an inch long including the legs and had has two lighter brown triangles on its back: the one nearest its head is slightly larger. Below the smaller triangle is a light brown brown dash, smaller than both triangles.

Many thanks.

Al

This is infact a S.Grossa and not Nobilis as i had first said.

[Venger]

Originally Posted by wildherbalian85

It doesn't matter so much as to were he is from what does matter is were the box he ordered came from as that is were the spider was located.

S.nobillis are bigger we have a few in our conservatory and one of them (think it might have been killed earlier in week) has a body length of apprx 20mm. And i do live in a location were they are and have been well established for over 100 years.

Yes, quite true, it depends where the box is from I agree.

I didn't say they were new I said they had a limited distribution (mainly due to climate - they came in with bananas apparently)

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Venger

Yes, quite true, it depends where the box is from I agree.

I didn't say they were new I said they had a limited distribution (mainly due to climate - they came in with bananas apparently)

I have read too that they originated in the Canary Islands and came over in the late 1800's on Banana boats. I have read that they first arived in Portsmouth (my home town) and then spread but i have also read conflicting theories aswell, with some saying they first arrived in Devon (i think it was devon) though the fact is which ever port/ ports they have untill recentely been confined to the south and southwest.

Though going on this i would put my money on its first arrival being southcoast rather then southwest

NBN Gateway - interactive species mapper

Did you know that S.grossa is also an alien species and is not a native. It was first recorded in 1846

[Allyn]

Thank you all for your advice. I think, given what you way, I'll go for Steatoda grossa. For further info, the spider came from Dartmouth.