Unknown Spider In Friends Loft - Any Ideas???

STEVEOHEDGE · #1 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 10:10 AM

Please could someone help to identify this spider located in their loft in the UK, they think its possibly a non poisonous relative of the Black Widow, you can see it has black legs attached to the small front part of the body and it has a very bulbous purple part at the rear probably 20 times the size of the front part of the body?

Oh I just realised I can't attach the photos how am I able to do this, not much help without a photo to identify it???

Tursiops2 · #2 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 10:41 AM

Hi steve, welcome to WAB
To upload a photo for discussion or identification, click on "Gallery" at the top of the page, then click on "Upload" (top right corner of panel with big arrows on), then follow instructions to upload to the Archive. Hope this helps

T2

STEVEOHEDGE · #3 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 10:56 AM

Ok Great, Many Thanks For Your Help Ill Give It A Go Now

STEVEOHEDGE · #4 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 11:33 AM

I have posted 3 photos of this spider in the general Gallery for viewing, not sure how to link to this post so hopefully you'll find them, cheers

Wild-Woman · #5 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 11:42 AM

Seen your shots. Great spider. Going to have a stab at Steatoda grossa.
Venger will have a look too I'm sure.

No.9 Spider · #6 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 12:22 PM

Steatoda grossa, nicely captured the purple hue to the abdomen. Possibly gravid as well.

No.9 Spider

STEVEOHEDGE · #7 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 01:03 PM

Thats great thanks for the speedy response guys I am sure the lady whose loft its in will be very pleased to know what it is but more so to know if its poisonous. Is it pregnant or is the body normally this big Sorry if I sound ignorant but what is Gravid? I am far from an expert in spiders and although I dont really like them I am becoming more familiar now living in a cottage by lots of farmland and trees! If I had a pound for every one Ive put in a glass and taken outside to the bottom of the garden I would be very rich!

Tursiops2 · #8 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 01:10 PM

Gravid = pregnant
Glad you succeeded with the uploads, nice pics of a fine beast

T2

STEVEOHEDGE · #9 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 02:01 PM

Many thanks I'll let them know there could be quite a few baby ones about soon then, cheers for your help, much appreciated

No.9 Spider · #10 (**permalink**) 31-01-2008, 02:04 PM

It has to be said that all but one family of spiders are venemous. Venom injected, poison ingested. Many species and the majority of species in the UK, are unable to penetrate human skin though I've known a few that have been responsible for bites on humans such as Dysdera crocata - the Woodlouse spider (no surprise there!), a couple of bites from the males of Jumping spider species, one being Salticus scenicus, the zebra spider, I can't think of the others but they number very few.
All the bites caused localised pain no worse than a wasp sting and localised redness and swelling. One bite from the male S. scenicus , had become quite nastily infected, though this was probably down to hygiene and living conditions of the victim, this in itself opens up a can of worms, as many bite victims throughout the world are often subjected to secondary infections from the bite that are far worse than the symptoms of the venom itself.
I've no doubt S. grossa could inflict a bite if provoked though wouldn't like to judge the severity of it, having said that it is unlikely to compare to it's relative the Black Widow. Treat with respect as always.

No.9 Spider