What spider is this?

[buttles]

Hi
I have a couple of spiders hiding out in a unused wooden play house in the garden.

They seem very intelligent, you can't get too close to them without them running back in for cover.

They have dark brown legs, but have a very rotound belly which is very shiney and black, with what appears to have a white rim, my husband says it looks like they have a bowler hat!

I can only see 2 of them and they seem to hang out either side of the play house, they seem to be guard watching either side each.

I will attempt to get a photo of them but they do not allow you to get too close.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Venger]

Is this 'white rim' a crescent?
Take a look at Steatoda bipunctata or Steatoda grossa
They can vary in colour from browny/purple to black and sometimes the abdominal patterning is very faint.

[buttles]

Hi
Thanks for the response, I know each spider looks abit diff, but could not find mine under the pictures.

I have managed to get a photo of it and loaded into the archive but first time I have done this and not sure it worked.

Here is the link ( I hope )
url=http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/archive/showphoto.php/photo/65605][/url].

[Venger]

Hi buttles,
Yes it's definitely a Steatoda sp can't really tell from the fuzziness of the photo which species it is.
They have been known to bite, but only in self defence (nothing fatal though, barring an allergic reaction - think of them as wasps or bees and give them the same respect). They eat insects not children so they be ok.
Just make sure your kids keep their fingers out of their hidey holes.

When you post a photo copy and paste the forum code under the photo.

[buttles]

Hi
Thanks for letting me know that it is not fatal!
I tend to stay away from spiders as have a bit of a phob!
Will def keep the kids away too!
Thanks again and will try harder with the photo next time!