Unknown Spider

[Lazybones]

Hi there, can anyone help me identify this?
I found a large spider coming into my house last night when we had heavy rain. The shape of it was just like a black widow.
I caught it and looked at it for a good while but couldn't get a photo so I'll do my best to explain the markings.
The overall colour of the spider was dark brownish/black.
At the top of the abdomen there was a yellowish crescent shape and then behind that there was a triangular shape followed by another slighter smaller one and then a very small mark. These marks ran centally down the abdomen and were all yellowish.
The spider was very slow and not at all agressive and left a constant silk trail.
I have never seen one of these before.
I would say the size of this spider was like a large garden spider.
The abdomen was huge.
I know more exoctic spiders live in the south but I live in the Yorkshire Dales and wouldn't have thought spiders like this would be around here?!
Can anyone send any pics of similar spiders?
Thanks for your help
LazyBones

[Kayleigh]

I cant help you with the id, but welcome Lazybones!

[Meta menardi]

Hi LB, it sounds very likely to be one of the Steatoda spp. family. Google Steatoda and check them out. There are some rather lurid sites that will try to persuade you that you and all your family will be killed by Steatoda nobilis, but think about it, there aren't piles of corpses all over the place.

[Venger]

Sounds like a female Steatoda sp.
Have a look at Steatoda grossa it might have reached that far by now.
Take a look at the others aswell Steatoda bipunctata and Steatoda nobilis(though I doubt S.nobilis has reached that far yet)

[Lazybones]

HI Guys - wow I didn't expect all these replies.
Thank you all for coming back to me!

I'll get on google and check out what you have told me.

I only discovered this site yesterday and I'm happy to join you all.

Any hints and tips for the site and how to get the most out of it?

Thanks Again

[Lazybones]

HI everyone
Well I checked it out and after alot of web pages I found one very similar.
It looks as if "Steatoda Grossa" is correct and here is the picture that looks as close to the one I found.
Thanks for your help!



Seatoda grossa