Steatoda nobilis?

[frits_b]

Steatoda nobilis doesn't occur (naturally) in the Netherlands, but in the UK they're not uncommon, are they?

I've never seen the species before, but when I visited the local garden center I found this spider in a rather large web. The spider itself was about 7mm. Is it indeed S. nobilis?

[John_M]

That is indeed S. nobilis. In my part of the UK (near Plymouth) it is a common species; in fact this afternoon my wife found one in her boot; says "would you like a spider dear?" and I turned round expecting a money spider, but instead was presented with a mature female S. nobilis. Despite their reputation of being biters, this spider (like all the ones I have handled) showed no aggression at all and had to be persuaded to leave my hand when I put her outside. There are a large number in my garden.

[frits_b]

Thanks John! You're lucky to have a non-arachnophobic wife ;-)

[faz]

it is in deed steatoda nobilis ( false widow spider ) first recorded in devon (torquay ) not a million miles from me in in 1879