Is this a false widow spider?

steven_9709 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2009, 06:27 PM

Been finding a few of these in my conservatory over the months. This one's a bit smaller and that makes me think it's probably a male. Can anybody enligthen me?

Thanks

wildherbalian85 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-07-2009, 06:46 PM

This certainly is a False Widow - Steatoda Nobilis

steven_9709 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2009, 06:52 PM

Thanks, thought it was. Should I be concerned? Heard some bad things about these. It's the third or fourth one I've found in my conservatory and got them living in my garage too.

I'm in Bedfordshire, is that quite far north for them? Had a quick google for them and it seems they're quite common on the south coast but less so the further north you go.

No.9 Spider · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2009, 07:04 PM

This is the BAS distribution map for Steatoda nobilis, though I suspect it's not quite up to date, as many records of species finds are not recorded. It's certainly a species that's spreading.

http://www.britishspiders.org.uk/ind...NSYS0000039460

No.9 Spider

HutchPet · #5 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 03:21 PM

A WARNING!!!

The so-called experts reckon that these are fairly harmless - unless you happen to be allergic to them. Which is fair enough...for humans. But watch out for them in rabbit hutches and the like. My best friend's rabbit was killed by one on Sunday. She is heart-broken.
We happened to be in the garden at the time: He let out a yelp, then collapsed. Within a minute his breathing and heart had stopped. There was a bite-mark on his ear and we found a young false black widow in the corner of the cage he had been sitting in.
He was not an old rabbit and had no prior health problems.

I have several hutch-dwelling pets myself and generally welcome spiders - after all they eat the flies (don't want fly-strike) - but these are different.
I need to know if anyone has any advice on killing spiders as humanely as possible.
I don't want to cause unnecessary suffering to the spiders (they can't help what species they are), but I want to protect my pets from them.

I know all the blarb about FBWS's only biting when threatened, but it seems they are easily threatened by the slightest accidental touch (in this case, being brushed by the poor rabbit's ear).

HutchPet · #6 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 03:23 PM

By the way, it was Rugby that this incident occurred in.

wildherbalian85 · #7 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 08:56 PM

[quote=HutchPet;511752]A WARNING!!!

There was a bite-mark on his ear and we found a young false black widow in the corner of the cage he had been sitting in.
QUOTE]

A young false Widow is not capable of biting