Spider I.D Please

[gillyuk]

Hi people. first time on this site just asking for a little help. my friend keeps finding these little bad boys in the bed sheets. just wanted to know what they are and... do they bite? lol we are located in Hull, uk close to the humber if that helps. Cheers!

[No.9 Spider]

It's Scotophaeus blackwalli. Sometimes referred to by the common name 'Mouse spider' but not to be confused with far more aggressive and toxic foreign species with the same common name!
They are a nocturnal species and quite common and widespread. I've always been wary of these and though I've not been bitten personally they are reputed to be capable of biting humans. Nice spiders and very quick!

http://www.britishspiders.org.uk/htm...nsys0000008651

[gillyuk]

thanks for your quick reply. great help, much appreciated!

[No.9 Spider]

No problem Gilly. One of the few times a spider (capable of puncturing our skin) will bite is in the scenario you describe - in the bedsheets !!! Make sure you advise your friend. There's unlikely to be too many in one area I'd have thought and so it may be that it's the same repeat offender. Just get her to regularly check the sheets and remove the spider outside, it'll take it a while to find it's way back in!

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

[robin28]

There is normally no reason for any spider to bite you. When you walk down the street, do you bite the tarmac?

Anyway, few spiders in this country have fangs powerful enough to pierce your skin.

That said, if you offer it a finger or something else that looks like food, some species may try to kill it and eat it.

Or if you squeeze them gently (or sit on them) you sometimes see the fangs come out.