Spider with tiny dot on back

[bubblewrap]

I would like to know if this is a steodata, please?

[bubblewrap]

Pic here, sorry missed it from first post.[url=http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/archive/showphoto.php?photo=123540][/url

[artdemole]

My Collins book of wildlife in the home says IT Is

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Bubblewrap, and welcome to WAB!

I'm not too sure... you've obviously seen it in the flesh so have a better idea of which it is. I can't really see enough in the photo to be sure myself. Do you have any other photographs at all?

For the beneft of later viewers, I have re-posted the image code since it's easily messed-up by a deleted letter!



Sorry I can't be of more help.

Take care,

Jason

[Geoff F]

That photo could indicate a number of possibilities. Any more information about body size (head to tail excluding legs), habitat, colouration, etc would be helpful.

Is the dot circular or triangular and any markings around the abdomen sides?

[bubblewrap]

Thank you, my spider is around 1 cm in length plus legs and jet black apart from dot and legs. The photo ( taken at night not brilliant) does show the body shape to scale correctly , round with a tiny head. Spider has been enjoying the windowsill while the bad weather was on. The web is a tangle web according to my spider book. Like a net .
No other markings can be seen just the white spot.The legs are striped, black and orangy brown .
I will be putting it outside as had a bad spider bite last year.
We do get Woodlouse spiders, Mouse spiders and various Teginaria in the house so am not holding any specific species responsible here.
The bite appeared from nowhere ( do not remember being bitten) on my lower back. Itching, two pinprick marks, one went black, swelling up of bite. It was like an egg cup in shape. Fluey symptoms, pain on site of bite lasted around a week, then started to subside. Kept a record of it via photo graphs. So don't pick spiders up now, in a glass with them and outside.
Thanks in advance.

[frits_b]

Annulated (striped) legs and a distinct dot could suggest a Steatoda species. Adult Steatodas have more than one white dot; they also usually have a white stripe across the front of the abdomen, even young animals have this.
Spider length is measured excluding legs. With a more or less accurate length measurement it may be possible to rule out some species (especially if yours is a relatively large spider).
Hope this helps...

[Geoff F]

That white dot is making me think about S. grossa which can have a clearly defined pale triangle shape which is often more noticeable on males. It was very clear on those that I recently found in my larder, while the pale crescent was less noticeable; although they had a more classic purplish background colour. But the legs weren't particularly annulated.

So without clearer photos, I think the only answer to Bubblewrap's question is; Yes possibly.

[No.9 Spider]

I'd go with Geoff on this with a "yes, possibly". From the overall proportions I'd say more likely Steatoda bipuctata rather than Steatoda grossa type species.



No.9 Spider

[bubblewrap]

Thank you everyone for your answers.Will be putting spider out tomorrow and wishing it well, whatever species it is.Great forum too, will be back for a good read soon.