Mystery spider! Can anybody help?

[Welshsusie]

Hi - just clearing out the garage when a rather angry looking, shiny, jet black spider appeared. I appreciate that I'd probably destroyed her home and she had every right to be cross but this was a most unusual looking spider so I then captured her in a glass (for a biologist I'm a terrible coward with spiders! ) and took a couple of photographs. Having read some other 'spider help' messages on this site, I have targetted Crustulina guttata as a possible suspect - but this spider was about 1.5cm which seems rather bigger than these should be? I have the photos but having only joined the site today I have no idea how to download them without breaking the rules....!
Has anybody out there got any ideas? Shiny, jet black, rounded body, no markings on the abdomen at all.
Thanks for your help. I've now released her into the garden so hope that she's harmless!! Sue

[demicav]

Could be one of the Steatoda Species, there's been quite a few around lately. Welcome to WAB by the way.

[Welshsusie]

Thanks for the suggestion and the welcome! I'll check that one out

S

[Venger]

To post an image - use either the 'forum images' or 'unidentified' galleries.

To put your image in a forum thread, view the image and copy (CTRL+C) all of the 'BB Image Code:' (the Forum Image Code) then paste it (CTRL+V) in your forum post.

Looking forward to seeing your spider.

[Wild-Woman]

Sounds like a Steatoda sp of some sort. I will be interested in seeing your arachnid.

[clicka15]

Hi Susie and welcome to WAB!

It's difficult to pin your description down to one species without a photograph, but your spider makes me think of a species that I've seen a lot of around my shed: Steatoda grossa.

Like some other Steatoda species, they are mildly venomous, but are unlikely to bite unless they are pushed. The female delivers a painful bite.

It might be worth comparing your specimen alongside some photos in the Gallery, or on the wider web (sorry!). Be aware though that Steatoda species can be confused on some websites.

[thes3raph1m]

isnt steatoda grossa the false widow spider?

im fairly sure the OP would have posted a "help i think i have a black widow spider" type message if it was that?

[Venger]

'False black widow' is a general catch all for the Steatoda spp.

Abdominal patterning can be quite varied on them, so you might not see any patterning on a S.bipuntata and they can vary from black to browny/purple.

I'll wait till I see the photo

[Welshsusie]

Hi sorry this has taken me a while - I'm not the most brilliant computer person in the world.....!! I THINK I've managed to upload a couple of photos onto the invertebrate Gallery (spiders section if I've got it right....!). It's only taken me four days and then the cat had to help me......

Any thoughts with the photo to help?!

S

[Welshsusie]

PS Thanks to you all for your replies, I've learned quite a lot about spiders from this site....it's brilliant!