Black Spider ID please

suzi · #1 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 02:24 PM

I've just been cleaning out my rabbit hutch and found a spider that i've never seen before. It's about 8mm long (not including legs). It's shiny black with two small, barely visible, triangles pointing upwards on its back. There are four small pin prick indents surrounding the top triangle. He has a large abdomen, small head. His legs are black and about the same length as his body. Any ideas anyone? He looks really scary!!

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 02:34 PM

Welcome to WAB! Can you post a photo? I have two suspects...

suzi · #3 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 03:03 PM

sorry they're not good pics, my phone won't focus on small things very well

suzi · #4 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 03:20 PM

He's looking a bit depressed (if spiders can get depressed

) is he going to bite my rabbits if I let him go??

Action_Man · #5 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 03:28 PM

Its probably Steatoda bipunctata, and no its not going to harm your rabbits.

It may have set up home there because there is an abundance of insects inside your hutch

...

Jason Green · #6 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Action_Man

Its probably Steatoda bipunctata, and no its not going to harm your rabbits.

It may have set up home there because there is an abundance of insects inside your hutch

...

My first suspect. My other was the Walnut Orb Weaver...

S. bipunctata is well known for building webs behind hutches - hence the common name!

suzi · #7 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 04:16 PM

Thanks for all your help, he's now been released as far away from the house as possible!

I've just found hundreds of tiny baby spiders the same shape as the black one but with yellow bodies, they were all scurrying around under the lid of the hutch!! eek! The rabbits will have to fend for themselves if they all take up residence in the cage! lol

Venger · #8 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 05:43 PM

Like these?

Photo by WestLothian.

Nothing to worry about - if they are those, they're spiderlings of Araneus diadematus - the garden cross spider.

Where are you in the UK Suzi?

Although S.bipunctata is most probable it could also be S.grossa, hard to say from the photos - but the triangles pointing upwards sounds more S.grossa than S.bipunctata.

Wrongs shape for Nunctenea umbratica Jason

Jason Green · #9 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venger

Wrongs shape for Nunctenea umbratica Jason

Ah, thanks Des

I was mainly tempted by the large, dimpled abdomen and small head description - obviously over-looking the rest of it

suzi · #10 (**permalink**) 29-05-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venger

Like these?

Photo by WestLothian.

Nothing to worry about - if they are those, they're spiderlings of Araneus diadematus - the garden cross spider.

Where are you in the UK Suzi?

Although S.bipunctata is most probable it could also be S.grossa, hard to say from the photos - but the triangles pointing upwards sounds more S.grossa than S.bipunctata.

Wrongs shape for Nunctenea umbratica Jason

Yep that's exactly what the little babies looked like. Are they the spiders that spin big webs and sit in the middle with a pretty little cross on their back?

I've looked up S Grossa and would have to agree that she looked exactly like the female picture I found. It's a relief to find out she native to the UK, I was a bit worried she'd turn out to be the new spider I've heard about that has a nasty bite!

I live 20 miles south of Bristol.