Can you ID this spider please?

[Garage tidier]

Hi everyone,
Could you have a go at ID'ing this spider please?

Sorry about the quality of the photos, best I could do at the moment.

It is mostly dark shiny brown, has brown at the joints of the legs, and very dark brown markings on the abdomen.

From what I have found on the internet it is too dark to be a false widow, and is missing the orange markings to be a black widow.

Iain Smith's Photos | Facebook

Iain Smith's Photos | Facebook

Thanks alot,
Iain, oxfordshire

[No.9 Spider]

It certainly looks like a Steatoda species though couldn't be more specific from the photograph.

...........and welcome to WAB

No.9 Spider

[Garage tidier]

Thanks, could you point me towards a good website that would help me ID it? All the sites I have looked at so far only have a selection of photos, none of which have proved conclusive.

[No.9 Spider]

British Spiders


No.9 Spider

[Garage tidier]

I have had a look through all the steatoda spiders, and while a few look very similar to what I found, none are as dark.

Do individual spiders vary in colour, or are all of the same species the same to look at?

[No.9 Spider]

Steatoda species like most spiders can vary in markings and colour within their own species. Have you seen the Steatoda photo on one of the current threads? I assume you are in the Southern counties? and if so I'd be looking at Steatoda grossa, the markings of which can be so dark that they are not apparent. Does your specimen have a lighter band or line running across the front of the abdomen? What is the length of the spider from the front of the carapace to back end of abdomen? (legs measurements never figure in spider i.d.).
Also just google Steatoda images, but be aware that there are a few misidentifications on there.


No.9 Spider

[Garage tidier]

Thanks alot, I have come to the conclusion it was a rather dark coloured female Steatoda grossa. Found another female and a male later on aswell.

Cheers for the help!

[naturegirl]

Just be wary of this species as they can deliver a small bite!

This can be nothing or similar to a bee sting which can be life-threatening to some (rare) people who react with Anaphylaxic shock (Me!!!!)

Good luck with this spider.....

Naturegirl