ID of Spiders in my compost bin

wilippa · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2011, 09:38 PM

There are a number of spiders in my compost bin - living off the flies, ants, snails etc that feed on the compost. Can anyone ID the two shown?
I think number one is a Tegenaria sp but I don't know which one.
1.

Number two is one specimen of many in there that are like this. I have no idea!
2.

Can anyone help please?

sebastianbawn · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 08:56 AM

Hi, the first is a Tegenaria but unfortunately you need a close up of the males palps or in this case the (female's) epigyne which is located on the underside of the body, to distinguish species.

wilippa · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 06:34 PM

Shucks! Thanks for the input though Sebastian.

sebastianbawn · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 08:14 PM

Without trying to plug it, the website under my name in my posts helps people to identify all kinds of animals, spiders included. We try to explain how to tell them all apart. It is worth a nose if you want to learn how the experts do it, a lot of which I have learnt from fellow Wabbers!