Spider ID

[lukus]

Hi all

Just registered - found two spiders on a sunlounger .. was wondering if they might be false widows?? I've attached a pic



cheers

luke

[Venger]

Welcome to WAB Luke,
It certainly looks like a Steatoda grossa. 'False widow spider' is a catch all name for the Steatoda genus. Where are you in the UK Luke?

[lukus]

I'm in Southampton - I heard these had a nasty bite, bit worse than a bee sting?

They were actually found in the house. I'm guessing that they hitched a ride on the lounger?

L

[Venger]

S.grossa are a syanthropic species, meaning they occur around man. One of their common names is 'cupboard spider', but usually somewhere dark and spacious will do (lofts, sheds that kind of thing)
They'd rather flee than fight and only bite in self defence.
When you ask for spider ID's if you can give their size as well (excluding legs), and where you found them and anything you might think that would be useful. (web shape, time of day etc)

Just give them the same respect as you would a wasp or bee (spider bites are quite rare, unlike wasp stings!)

[lukus]

Thanks for the information - they've now been banished to the panel-fence at the end of the garden. These were fairly small spiders, their bodies were about 5mm and 8mm.

After giving the sun-lounger a shake and inspecting it for any others.. I braved it and used it for half an hour or so. When I got up I found that I do have a small inflamed mark on my wrist... fearing the worst I looked over the area I'd been laying and I found a very tiny (unfortunately dead) spider - body maybe 1.5mm. If it was the culprit - it's sting is pretty impressive for it's size.

[Venger]

At that size it's bite wouldn't get through your skin. More likely a mozzie