Spider ID (Please)

beardo · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2011, 07:02 PM

Hi There,

Forgive me for my cheekiness in posting this as a first post. My wife screamed and then promptly climbed onto a stool and pointed at the floor. A browny/purple shiny spider with what look to me like arrowheads on it's back was the cause of the upset.

http://www.lampdesign.co.uk/spider/spider-2.jpg
http://www.lampdesign.co.uk/spider/spider.jpg

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone can id it, I have it safely contained in a tupperware container at the moment pending ID.

Thank you for looking!

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2011, 07:11 PM

Probably Steatoda sp.

Others will confirm.

Geoff F · #3 (**permalink**) 11-03-2011, 07:21 PM

Can you give a size, head to tail excluding legs.

There are 3 Steatodas which immediately spring into my mind , (more possibly) and that specimen looks like a mixture of all of them! They can be a bit variable in colour; but size should sort them out.

Wild-Woman · #4 (**permalink**) 11-03-2011, 07:26 PM

I'm going for Steatoda grossa.

beardo · #5 (**permalink**) 11-03-2011, 07:34 PM

Size wise, the fat bit is about 5mm diameter, The whole length is about 10mm+ Hard to say as I am not gonna get the little blighter out and measure it! It is a bit too fast and feisty looking!

I have been looking it up on google and it does look like Steatoda grossa to me

beardo · #6 (**permalink**) 11-03-2011, 07:37 PM

Sorry - head to tail excluding legs...about 8mm

beardo · #7 (**permalink**) 11-03-2011, 07:38 PM

I did get a ruler to it so fairly accurate measurement.

faz · #8 (**permalink**) 11-03-2011, 07:42 PM

depending on the camera angle and the flash light the colour and pattern mabye a (Stedoda Nobilis)

beardo · #9 (**permalink**) 11-03-2011, 08:20 PM

Hmm, Well, though I am confident that the lighter markings on the back are not the result of the flash - I did have a reasonably close look. Unfoetunately the pot is cloudy and it is rather fast moving so I won't trouble it tonight.

I will try and get some better pictures in the morning.

Thank you both.

Geoff F · #10 (**permalink**) 12-03-2011, 07:04 PM

Well at that size and with those abdomen markings I would go for S. grossa.

I did think the legs may be a bit dark but it is a variable species. The front legs also appeared a little short but that could be due to the camera angle.

But I am prepared to be over ruled by an expert.