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|  » Stats |
Members: 50,172
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15-08-2008, 06:28 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 114
| | | Size of raft spider
I read that raft spiders are the biggest in the UK. Is this right? Could they really be bigger than the humongous house spiders I've seen? 
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15-08-2008, 06:34 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Scotland/Spain
Posts: 5,611
| | | Re: Size of raft spider
Not sure but check out the reference section  Raft Spider | Wild About Britain
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15-08-2008, 06:37 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cheshire and North Wales
Posts: 1,125
| | | Re: Size of raft spider
Dolomedes species are certainly a well proportioned spider with a good leg span and a relatively sized body hence their sometimes labelling as being the 'biggest'. Tegenaria species (House spiders) can have very long legs, in excess of Dolomedes leg length, but generally have relatively small body sizes.
Then again you could say Araneus quadratus was the biggest if you were looking at bulk as it is regarded as the heaviest.
So is it leg length, body size or a combination of the two? I personally don't think there's a correct answer.
No.9 Spiders
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15-08-2008, 06:50 PM
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,029
| | | Re: Size of raft spider
We were lucky enough to see a couple of these at the recent Thursley Common WAB meet. This one was at least 4cm... 
And that 4cm is body length. Leg span was at least double that. I've certainly never seen a Tegenaria with an 8cm leg span.
Dave P.
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15-08-2008, 07:08 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lancashire
Posts: 3,464
| | | Re: Size of raft spider
I've heard that Raft Spiders are the biggest British Spider but some of them House Spiders sure can't be far behind.
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15-08-2008, 07:42 PM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 9,728
| | | Re: Size of raft spider
I would say that some of the house spider's are a bit longer on leg length, but the raft spider's general build is heavier, legs thicker and body stronger looking. But that's my opinion after seeing them at Thursley this year.
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15-08-2008, 09:04 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cheshire and North Wales
Posts: 1,125
| | | Re: Size of raft spider
I've seen a few preserved male specimens of Tegenaria parietina with leg spans in excess of 5 inches (over 125mm leg span in new money!).
No.9 Spider
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15-08-2008, 11:53 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the edge of Romney Marsh, Kent
Posts: 1,178
| | | Re: Size of raft spider
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That big!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blimey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Naturegirl |
19-08-2008, 02:43 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 114
| | | Re: Size of raft spider
Yikes! Thanks everyone... though personally I wouldn't want to get in there with a ruler to find out! O.o While I like most spiders a lot and half my classmates can't stand money spiders, house spiders make me shudder.
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20-08-2008, 01:54 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the edge of Romney Marsh, Kent
Posts: 1,178
| | | Re: Size of raft spider
I was very brave recently when my daughter let out the most enormous scream!!!!! Saying that a humungous spider was on my tablecloth!!!!
I tried to tell her that it was only a male Tegeneria lookming for a mate! She would not listen and decided to take my little grand daughter off home saying "I hope you get rid of it!"
Naturegirl | | | |
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