2 Spiders to ID please

clicka15 · #1 (**permalink**) 17-10-2007, 06:48 PM

Hi again,

The first spider was in my kitchen and had made a messy tangle web in my Dragon Plant. It's small and has shed it's skin (what's the scientific term?) at least once while in the plant. Body size is roughly 5mm. I wondered whether it was a Steatoda spp. Any ideas?

The second spider is living in my fence. It has a web consisting of some milky looking silk that acts as trip wires, upon which it comes out of the web and pounces on its prey. This time it walked into my trap and I caught it to take a couple of photos before returning it to its web.

It moved like a tarantula, despite its small size (body is roughly 10mm) and, up close, it's not disimilar. I wonder if it's related...? I'd be interested to learn what species it is, if anyone knows.

Thanks,

Steven.

demicav · #2 (**permalink**) 17-10-2007, 07:01 PM

Second one is almost certainly Amaurobius similis or Amaurobius fenestralis. We have loads of A similis outside on the windows, was once bitten by one as well. Sorry, not sure about the first pic.

clicka15 · #3 (**permalink**) 17-10-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demicav

...was once bitten by one as well.

Thanks for the ID. Did the bite hurt?

Venger · #4 (**permalink**) 17-10-2007, 07:27 PM

Yet another Steatoda nobilis female this time, and definitely an Amaurobius spp you'd need to check the epigyne to be sure (another female).

Fantastic photos, makes iding so much easier

demicav · #5 (**permalink**) 17-10-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clicka15

Thanks for the ID. Did the bite hurt?

Very much, like glass cutting into me, but it wasn't the Spiders fault. Poor thing had crawled into my washing up gloves during the night and in the morning I went to use them as usual and ended up squashing the Spider. It was a self defence and the Spider was ok, it was released back outside. I have a soft spot for them now.