spiders indoors in winter

Dash · #1 (**permalink**) 22-12-2011, 09:43 AM

Hi. Can anyone advise - there's a spider on a web in the house. I could just leave it alone, but there's unlikely to be any flies in the house until next summer, so won't it starve? But if I put it outside it's unlikely to find any flying insects either. Big house spiders that I've noticed that I'm living with in the past have been the wolf type that don't make webs. This is a medium sized spider hanging down over a window. thanks

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 22-12-2011, 09:55 AM

Do a Google search for a spider scientifically known as 'Zygiella X-notata', which is well-known for over-wintering as an adult. I'm not really sure what they survive on, but lowish temperatures reduces the metabolic rate and the low energy expension of just waiting should ensure it survives. Maybe spring-tails or the odd other active insect that's found it's way into your abode will top-up it's reserves.

For interest, have a look at the 'sticky' thread The 'Active Winter Invertebrates' thread 2011/12! for a list of sightings of various insects that haven't read the books telling them they should be hibernating.

Welcome to WAB.

John_M · #3 (**permalink**) 22-12-2011, 09:59 AM

I'd leave it alone; I'm quite intrigued by the big 'wolf type' spiders though. I'm impressed by the way the spiders in and around my house seem to survive on nothing through the winter; quite a lot fall prey to Pholcus phalangioides over the winter though.

wilippa · #4 (**permalink**) 22-12-2011, 11:35 AM

There are still a few Pholcus around in my house and Ziggy, my Z. x-notata in hiding behind my boiler. Like Jason said, they slow down. They don't eat every day anyway. I'm interested to know what species your spider is though Dash. Could you post a picture or detailed description?

Dash · #5 (**permalink**) 23-12-2011, 10:07 AM

Thanks everyone, I will just leave it to take it's chance. It's not a 'Zygiella X-notata' - I've taken a photo and posted it but I can't work out how to link this post to the photo. It's probably a house spider - (as you might have guessed by now I don't anything about spiders) - except that I've not seen one hanging around before. Cheers

Johnny81 · #6 (**permalink**) 23-12-2011, 10:52 AM

re, uploading photos: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...otos-info.html

wilippa · #7 (**permalink**) 23-12-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dash

Thanks everyone, I will just leave it to take it's chance. It's not a 'Zygiella X-notata' - I've taken a photo and posted it but I can't work out how to link this post to the photo. It's probably a house spider - (as you might have guessed by now I don't anything about spiders) - except that I've not seen one hanging around before. Cheers

I think Tegenaria (common name "house spider") females can survive the winter but the males usually die after mating in the autumn. It could be a Pholcus phalangioides as already mentioned - Google it, they're very distinctive, you'll know if it is! - they seem to survive the winter pretty well and live off anything they can catch, including other spiders, and in my house, thankfully earwigs!

John_M · #8 (**permalink**) 24-12-2011, 06:37 AM

Is this your photo?
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ar...m/IMGP9762.JPG
If so, then it's not Pholcus or Tegenaria. Could be Metellina or something like that; an orb weaver anyway, but can't see much detail on the animal.

Dash · #9 (**permalink**) 24-12-2011, 10:32 AM

Yes, IMGP9762 is the photo. I think I need to take one at night with the light on as there's too much light coming through the window behind the spider. It's not Pholcus phalangioides as we get loads of those and I know what they look like. I think it could be a house spider after all - it's just that I've only seen them running around rather than sat on a web.

John_M · #10 (**permalink**) 24-12-2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dash

Yes, IMGP9762 is the photo. I think I need to take one at night with the light on as there's too much light coming through the window behind the spider. It's not Pholcus phalangioides as we get loads of those and I know what they look like. I think it could be a house spider after all - it's just that I've only seen them running around rather than sat on a web.

It's not a house spider (Tegenaria). Your spider is an orb weaver; what does the web look like? Round; is the centre of the web a hole, or are there threads woven in the centre, how dense are the threads? Could you use flash?