House Spider?

[buggslife]

I used to have a resident beast of a spider who seemed to enjoy my old living room. I was always impressed with the size of the thing so one day I measured it at about 11cm legspan.

I had assumed it was a house spider, but, I have just read that the larger females grow to up to just 6cm legspan.

Is it possible it was still a freak of a house spider or more likely another species?

Unfortunately I recently moved house so I can't double check but I'd love to know any thoughts.

Thanks.

[Venger]

No chance of a photo then?

Several things ned to be answered first -

Where are you in the UK?
Your measurement is front to back? do you know the size of the body and abdomen together?

If you are aware that it is a 'house spider' I'm assuming it's a member of the Tegenaria family, with the leg size it sounds like a Tegenaria parietina - google it to find some images, though it is located in very specific areas and is not as common in houses as other Tegenaria

Tegenaria parientina distribution map

[thes3raph1m]

wahey! im in the parientina area!

i did wonder why my house spider was so large... lol

but then it could be any of the others... lol

[helen253]

interesting that, according to the distribution map, from the 1950s they seemed to spread further north then from 1992 retreated south again....not that i'm complaining that they haven't reached the north east yet, 11cm is ridiculously massive and quite unnecessary if you ask me!

[buggslife]

I took the measurement as max leg to leg which was front to back.

I'm up in Lancs near Liverpool, so possibly the Tegenaria parietina as there was a single dot up toward this way on the map but looing more likely the Tegeneria saeva based on geographic representation.

In the future I'll take snaps and discuss it with substance, although sadly I've left this particular spider behind now.
Thanks for the responses and info though.

The Arachnological Society site is pretty good:
British Arachnological Society: Frequently Asked Questions