what's this black shiny spider?

[benlindseyclark]

Hi there

If anyone can hgelp me with an ID I would be grateful.

I have a spider here that's about 12mm in length (just its head body that is, including the legs its more like 32mm), and has a plain, black shiny body. The legs have a dark brown colour. It is virtually hairless, spins webs, and in the location I found it (a conservatory) it had some local webs with dead woodlice in them. I've been keeping it alive in a jar and feeding it woodlice until I had it identified as it looked quite unusual and a bit suspect (though I doubt its as bad as it looks). It resembles the false widow, but with no discernable markings.

Thanks.

Ben

[Venger]

Sound like a member of the Steatoda family, if it has no discernable markings it could be S.grossa (there markings can be very faint to none existant), but it all depends on where you are in the country.

Can you see a crescent running around the top of the abdomen?
Any chance of a picture as well?

[Marshall Stax]

Based on the description given and the knowledge previously shared with me by Venger and No.9 Spider (thanks again), I would also go for a member of the Steatoda family, with the most likely candidate being Steatoda grossa.

David