Spider i.d. please

[Words]

I saw this keeping guard just under the garage eaves. It doesn't look like the usual garden spider so any i.d pointers appreciated.

[tombong1]

It looks like a large woodland spider but im no expert. It looks like the same spider that you get in the orchads at fhe bottom of my garden they are huge.

[Words]

Thanks for the pointer Tom! I'm terrible with identifying spiders. It wasn't that large actually, about 2cm end to end.

[Venger]

It's a Zygiella x-notata.
Almost always found around our houses and other buildings.
Usually called the missing sector spider, or missing sector orb weaver.
(I'm sure there is another name for them, but it's slipped my mind)
Fun little spiders that stay active for quite a while in the colder months (though they like it warm)

Enjoy!

[Words]

Thanks Venger! Nice one.

[tombong1]

oh well thats told me, fair play

[Words]

Tom, never mind. I appreciate the effort. I'm hopeless at spiders, but I really ought to put something in the shots for scale.

[Venger]

If you can get it on grid paper that would be great! (long as you tell us the size of the grid!)

Also an underneath shot would be good as well - depends on how good your camera is.

[Words]

No grid, but is the sort of thing you mean

[Venger]

While the sternum is good at aiding an ID (at least for some species , like Tegenaria) the more important stuff is on the abdomen, but mainly/only if they are female.
Do you see those 2 little black dots on the abdomen in that picture, with the little 'snout' - that would be the epigyne (or epigynal opening).It's studying structures like these (and the male palps) which allows you to ID to a species level.
Other good areas are the spinners (not forgetting the legs, toes, spines and trichobothrium!)
Some are easier than others and sometimes it doesn't help if they are still juveniles!
Welcome to the world of spider ID!!

It is fun, but you can't give 100% id from a photo (unless you have a really good camera, and sometimes a microscope too!)

[tombong1]

spider, is it poisenas,

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Words

No grid, but is the sort of thing you mean

wow..fantastic detail. I wish I could take pics like yours.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Words

No grid, but is the sort of thing you mean

Now that's what I call a close up , good pic.

[Words]

LOL! I was pleased with that shot. The spider (female) was there every night for a while in autumn and I got plenty of practice. She was quite large (as spiders go) and had a really good spot on a rose bush. I kind of miss her now!

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Words

LOL! I was pleased with that shot. The spider (female) was there every night for a while in autumn and I got plenty of practice. She was quite large (as spiders go) and had a really good spot on a rose bush. I kind of miss her now!

How did you get the underneath shot?

[Words]

That was the side of the web facing me most of the time. She was hanging about 4 feet from the ground on the outer egde of the rose bush. Perfect positioning. Plus she held that spot for about a month (with various breaks for web rebuilding, but incredibly consistent). Must have been a decent hunting ground. She was the largest spider out there.

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Words

I saw this keeping guard just under the garage eaves. It doesn't look like the usual garden spider so any i.d pointers appreciated.

Words / Venger....

Just photographed this in our dining room.

Is it the same species?
Ta.
Doug

[Words]

Looks like it to me, but I'm no expert.

[Venger]

I'd say so

[Courtz]

I just found a spider that I have never seen before in my room when I was about to go to bed, I jumped onto the computer to see what kind of spider it is but there and no pictures or identifications of this kind, I hope someone could help me it is a small black spider that looks like it has a hard body, fangs and a white patch on its back. It is about the size of a 10 cent.

[Venger]

Hi Courtz,
Welcome to WAB.

I'm assuming you're American with you reference to a 10 cent piece?

If you are in the US then I might not be able to help you much as I mainly deal with spiders that are around me (UK and Europe)
I don't suppose there is any chance of a photo? there are an awful lot of spider species out there and "small black spider that looks like it has a hard body, fangs and a white patch on its back" doesn't really give us a lot of information.

Anyway, as a rough guess go look at Steatoda sp a member of the Theridiidea family.