Which Steatoda is this ?

[Mulldoonz]

We've had this little beasty living in our Kitchen for over a year now and this was the first time I've been able to get a good pic of it. I know nothing about Spiders only that I am slowly getting over a major phobia of them lol.. and have tried to become more interested in them. ( Moving to Somerset and being surrounded by loads has helped get used to the critters.. no choice really!!)

Anyhooo.... I never got close enough to measure it.. but I estimate about 10 - 15m body length. I've heard of the false widow and that is what it reminds me of, the abdomen has a point at the end which makes it look quite evil when you see if from the side view 'shiver'... I've looked up Steatoda nobilis / grossa etc but they all have more markings than this one..so... any ideas which species she/he belongs to?

Thanks

ps.. can all Steatodas be classed as False widows ? or is it just the noiblis?

[Geoff F]

Have you checked S. bipunctata? Although going by your size estimation, I would think that S. nobilis is the most likely.

Colouration can be quite variable so that on it's own isn't reliable.