A question and I.D

[wildherbalian85]

Firstly what is this spider?/ CLubonia??



Secondly why is it that the markings on the Nobilis look so light and patchy??

[Geoff F]

From those photos these are difficult questions to answer. Firstly, any indication of size? The first spider is on woodwork, so is the tongue and groove timber about 1 ins thick?

If so that would give the spider body as around 15mm which is a substantial animal.

It does have prominent spinners like Clubiona but, to me, the first and second pairs of legs appear too long. The same applies to my second thought, Gnaphosidae family.

If my suggested size is correct, I am rather tempted to consider a rather dark female Tegenaria sp. or similar member of the Agelenidae family, although the legs probably aren't long enough for these.

If you are in the south, Segestria florentina almost matches the size, shape and colour but not the prominent spinners.

So I think this will probably be no more than guesswork unless you have some closer photos from a different angle.

Are you sure that the second spider is Steatoda nobilis? It is impossible to tell from those photos. But all spiders do vary in colour particularly juveniles. So if that is an immature specimen you may have the answer.

But hopefully these rough suggestions might spur one of our real experts to have a stab at a more comprehensive answer.

[wildherbalian85]

Thanks Geoff... the body was about 10mm and i did at first think maybe a young/ small Tegenaria, incidental only an hour early a very large Tegenaria was in the crevice near to where the other spider is (note legs half out )... this Tegenaria had a body of at least 18mm. As for a florentina... to small, wrong colour and shape... but there are plenty of them in my garden.

With regards to the Nobilis i assumed i photographed the same spider i had seen an hour earlier and it was attached to a cob web of the same kind of structure built by Nobilis/ Grossa... that said by the time i had returned the this small section of shed was teaming with spiders.

[wildherbalian85]

Just been out and photographed this Nobilis



now looking at the earlier spider i now have serious doubts on my original spider

[Geoff F]

That one looks more like it; a classic colour scheme.

But as you do have S. nobilis there, it is perfectly feasible for the previous spider to be a pale coloured juvenile. Like this http://www.jorgenlissner.dk/images/P...s_hun_1646.jpg

However, without clear details I think it will be impossible to be certain either way.

If your first spider is 10mm body size that opens up a lot more possibilities, but also makes ID that little bit harder without a good close up from a better angle. Scotophaeus blackwalli does now become a contender, although I am still uncertain about the leg length from that angle.

Hopefully an expert will be along shortly!

[wildherbalian85]

The whole spider was around an inch (leg to leg)