Mouse spider behaviour (no pic)

[hsl]

Hi I have spent some time trying to identify a spider I saw today. Turns out it was a Mouse spider (and a big one...)

I was putting some washing out when something caught my eye. It was a spider in a web on the kitchen windowsill. It was a shiny, smooth looking brown spider, about 1 inch long, and it was walking through a messy web really slowly and carefully (the spiders web belonged to a lace webbed spider, I found out.)

What happened next was very surprising - Another spider came out to attack the Mouse spider, but, quick as a flash the Mouse spider attacked it first, biting just below the other spiders eyes!

It certainly looked like the Mouse spider was 'luring' the Lace Web spider out of it's home so it could eat it!

Is this normal behavior for a Mouse spider? It must be quite intelligent imo

[demicav]

I don't have much experience with Mouse spiders but I'm sure Venger will be along later. I have lots of Laced webbed spiders outside and they seem to move quite slow compared to other spiders, was once bitten by one and they really pack a punch. Anyway, maybe the Mouse spider had an advantage with speed.

[Venger]

Hmm you sure it was a 'mouse' spider? (they usually have a 'furry' abdomen hence - looking like a mouse, rather than the shiny, smooth looking brown spider)
Sadly 'mouse spider' covers quite a large group of spiders Gnaphosidae, Clubionidae have all been called mouse spiders, mostly they are nocturnal hunters, though there are a few that hunt during daylight.
Generally wandering spiders will take what they can get, so this might have just been an oppotunist attack.

[hsl]

Originally Posted by Venger

Hmm you sure it was a 'mouse' spider? (they usually have a 'furry' abdomen hence - looking like a mouse, rather than the shiny, smooth looking brown spider)
Sadly 'mouse spider' covers quite a large group of spiders Gnaphosidae, Clubionidae have all been called mouse spiders, mostly they are nocturnal hunters, though there are a few that hunt during daylight.
Generally wandering spiders will take what they can get, so this might have just been an oppotunist attack.

Yeah but it was like it had experience of being in that type of web. And it was definitely a Mouse spider, and it looked furry and silky, like you say. They are not called mouse spiders because of their furry abdomen you know, it's to do with the stop-start movement they have, like a mouse.

[Venger]

Originally Posted by hsl

They are not called mouse spiders because of their furry abdomen you know, it's to do with the stop-start movement they have, like a mouse.

Actually it is because of their drab furry abdomen, sorry.
Lot's of spider have a stop-start movement - which is partly why people don't like them, along with the slow crawl.

Mouse Spider

[hsl]

Originally Posted by Venger

Actually it is because of their drab furry abdomen, sorry.
Lot's of spider have a stop-start movement - which is partly why people don't like them, along with the slow crawl.

Mouse Spider

Well It's both reasons I think. Although I still think it's more to do with the way they move! because I see this type of spider all the time at night when I'm watching TV in bed. In the dark and far away I can't see the fur or colour, but the movement instantly reminded me of a mouse Spiders

[Nick1986]

this is all very intersting. ive been trying to look for a mouse spider recently, having learnt that they can be found in most parts of the UK. has anybody got any suggestions as to where i can looka nd at what time of the year? this would be very helpful. Thanks. Nick