Is this tegenaria gigantea?

Hedgehoggy · #1 (**permalink**) 22-10-2010, 07:11 PM

Found lodging inside my hedgehog/bumble nestbox in mid-September. It was the biggest, and prettiest, spider I've ever seen here in the UK! The diameter of the base of the container and the height both measure 6cm:

RobAtkinson · #2 (**permalink**) 22-10-2010, 07:18 PM

It does look like tegenaria sp but without a microscope you cannot really tell what sp it is.

faz · #3 (**permalink**) 22-10-2010, 07:20 PM

it looks like it to me it is least house bound species of the three

Hedgehoggy · #4 (**permalink**) 22-10-2010, 07:43 PM

Thanks guys. What struck me most was how something with such beautiful patterning and colouring would spend its life hiding away in complete darkness

The tegenaria I usually find nesting in my bird boxes or scuttling around my house are of the non-descript drab colour!

frits_b · #5 (**permalink**) 23-10-2010, 02:26 PM

Looks like Tegenaria atrica to me. A very common species, but this is indeed a nicely coloured one.

Hedgehoggy · #6 (**permalink**) 23-10-2010, 10:18 PM

Thanks frits_b, whatever she is, she was in immaculate, pristine condition and for the first time, I actually admired the beauty of a tegenaria!

The patterning on her abdomen has now got me wondering if the classic herringbone pattern woven on fabrics was actually inspired by this species of spider, and not the skeleton of the herring fish!!

OK, I've already got me coat on!