Identify this spider please

[TheTick]

Is this a False Widow Spider? The piccies were taken today (16/03/2010), it's seems to be about 15-20mm (rough guess). Little Fella is living in my Shed. The photos don't do it justice really. There is a pale patch on the underside of the abdomen (not visible in photo).



cheers

[frits_b]

Looks like Steatoda bipunctata. Is that what you British people call the false widow spider? Spider sizes are usually given exluding legs. Adult S. bipunctata's can reach up to 7mm.

[TheTick]

6-7mm sounds about right for the body itself it helps.

http://www.eurospiders.com/Steatoda_bipunctata.htm

"common false widow"

[Jason Green]

Evening TT, and welcome to WAB!

Originally Posted by frits_b

Looks like Steatoda bipunctata. Is that what you British people call the false widow spider?

Yes, it is generally. I think this one is often referred to as the Rabbit Hutch Spider too. I agree with the ID, and it looks like a female.

Take care,

Jason

[TheTick]

Brilliant thanks very much guys!

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by frits_b

Looks like Steatoda bipunctata. Is that what you British people call the false widow spider? Spider sizes are usually given exluding legs. Adult S. bipunctata's can reach up to 7mm.

Only on this site. Normally //// utill i became familier with WAB the only time i heard the name "False Widow" spider it was in reference to either S. Grossa or S.Nobilis

[frits_b]

Thanks for the info, WH. Do you know of a web resource which lists common English names for spider species? It's rather confusing, because sometimes there's also an American name (and maybe even Canadian or Australian name?).

In Holland we're lucky; for nearly all of the six hundred species occuring over here, there are common names. Some have really weird names, like the 'arrogant problem spider' and the 'modest problem spider'. Don't ask me how that came about. I guess you have to be creative if you have to come up with hundreds of different names ;-)

[Geoff F]

Common names are always a problem because most of them aren't actually 'common'; by which I mean general. In the UK they can vary between counties, never mind countries, and in the past, even different villages in the same neighbourhood would use different common names for wildlife.

I think the False Black Widow label was first used here by some of the tabloid newspapers to frighten people. 'UK Child bitten by False Black Widow' etc and chiefly referred to S. nobilis; although S. grossa is frequently added to this description.

I'm afraid that some of our newspapers are always keen to create a scare story. And remember the first rule of journalists, 'Never let the truth spoil a good story'.

ps. And if you think we should have UK common names, the first action would be to create a Committee to choose the names. I think we could probably decide upon the members and remit for such a committee within around 10 years; but that would obviously depend on acquiring sufficient funding!

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Common names are always a problem because most of them aren't actually 'common'; by which I mean general. In the UK they can vary between counties, never mind countries, and in the past, even different villages in the same neighbourhood would use different common names for wildlife.

I think the False Black Widow label was first used here by some of the tabloid newspapers to frighten people. 'UK Child bitten by False Black Widow' etc and chiefly referred to S. nobilis; although S. grossa is frequently added to this description.

I'm afraid that some of our newspapers are always keen to create a scare story. And remember the first rule of journalists, 'Never let the truth spoil a good story'.

ps. And if you think we should have UK common names, the first action would be to create a Committee to choose the names. I think we could probably decide upon the members and remit for such a committee within around 10 years; but that would obviously depend on acquiring sufficient funding!

I agree, Geoff has pretty much hit this one on the nail!

But i would like to add to this, it seems ever increasingly here on WAB the scare tactics have spread from what the papers originally only labeled S.Nobilis & S.Grossa to now any steatoda. It seems any Steatoda on WAB is now frequently labeled as a false widow.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by wildherbalian85

But i would like to add to this, it seems ever increasingly here on WAB the scare tactics have spread from what the papers originally only labeled S.Nobilis & S.Grossa to now any steatoda. It seems any Steatoda on WAB is now frequently labeled as a false widow.

Well, whether you are referring to bipunctata, the Rabbit-hutch Spider, or nobilis/grossa - remember they are each capable of nipping in self-defence (RE scare tactics)!

Common names are often confusing, and given all three aforementioned spiders can bite I don't personally see the issue with them generally being called False Widows. Afterall, if the one common name covers two species - then why not three? It may not sound very scientific, but then common names aren't meant to be! If you want accuracy, use the Latin instead in my opinion.