Amaurobius ferox?

[JRsbugs]

Hi!

Found this with it's web on the skirting board in my lounge! There's a small gap underneath.

Is this correct?

Janet

[frits_b]

Yes, I think it must be A. ferox. The cardiac mark distinguishes it from similar-looking Coelotes species.

[No.9 Spider]

Certainly looks good for A. ferox (I think!), surprising how variable they can be in appearance. Do you have a cellar? I've only ever found them outdoors from grass embankments on the south coast rocky areas in North Wales.

[JRsbugs]

Thank you frits!

No.9. no I don't have a cellar but this is a very old house. It's the first time I've seen this one though! I don't know where it could have been hiding as the floor was concreted in some years ago, probably around 25 years now, before that there was a dirt floor with those red tiles people used to have but I never saw those. The walls have old lime mortar between the bricks. It might have come in from a side door which is next to the stairs, but it would have to come under another door to the lounge which has bristle draught excluder on the bottom. The stairs might have been harbouring it, I get the occasional biggish blackish spider there. Other than that, the kitchen adjoins the lounge and it has a very old wooden floor (with carpet on top) so that could be where it came from. There's an outside air vent to the space under the wooden floor too, I sometimes get slugs climbing up the wall!

I found some with the same pattern, Eakring Birds has pics much the same.

Amaurobius ferox