Spider for ID

[richard79]

Hello can anyone help I.D the following Spider. I am in Berkshire, U.K. The spider was in an indoor cupboard, dead, fell out when I disturbed the web on entering. The photo possibly misleading as I think my net curtains are casting a shdow that looks like patterning. To my eye the spider looked jet black, and shiny, with some light dimpling on underside.

[No.9 Spider]

Check out and compare Steatoda species on the internet to start with, possibly Steatoda grossa for example. It's probably the effect of the net curtain that makes it look a bit like Meta/Metellina merianae.

.............welcome to WAB

[richard79]

Thanks for the reply. I put the spider in a plastic bag before disposing of it and unfortunately that is reflecting the curtain in the photo. I couldn't see any obvious markings on the back, just a very deep shiny, almost velvet like blackness. I did wonder whether it was a 'false widow'. I get alot of spiders in the house but never seen one before.