Steatoda nobilis

[naturegirl]

I was at my daughter's house in Ashford Kent yesterday and as I went to leave she screamed about a spider that was on her front door frame. I realised that it was a Steatoda nobilis and saved it from 'Mr shoe' of her hubby!!
I know that they have been reported from here in recent times so thought that my GP should see what one looks like as it seems credible that someone may be bitten in the near future. Needless to say he was delighted to see one 'in the flesh' so to speak and insisted on showing the other Doctors what it looked like.
Needless to say I released the spider back where it came from very near to my daughter's house the next day!!

Naturegirl

[faz]

Steatoda nobilis seen All year round Usually found in houses and out buildings. The false widow spider (Steatoda nobilis) probably arrived in the UK from the Canary Islands. It was first recorded in Torquay, Devon, back in 1879. Since then it has adapted well to our colder climate.

False widows belong to a group of spiders which are part of the same family as the infamous Black Widow spiders, although they are nowhere near as toxic. They're frequently mistaken for Black Widow spiders, which has led to the common name of "False Widow" spiders.

They have a dark shiny body. The abdomen has some pale markings on the top, and there is a creamy coloured band all round the front. Under a hand lens this looks like an intricate mosaic.

The web of the false widow spider consists of many short, irregularly placed silk strands. It's a bit of a mish-mash.

False widows have a reputation for biting people, although in truth, this is quite a rare occurrence. You would need to be very unlucky, or go out of your way to be bitten. They only bite if mishandled or provoked. People who have experienced the bite say it's similar to a bee sting.

[John_M]

I have 7 in my kitchen, and quite a few more in and around the house; I know their reputation, but they've never been a problem other than having to remove their webs when they get too grotty, even by my standards.

[naturegirl]

Thanks guys!

I know where they came from and understand that they do not really want to waste their bite on us and that they will only bite if squashed in any way.

I find their behaviour different to our usual spiders in that they do not run off or back down when approached and this is unusual.

I am especially careful as I go into anaphylaxic shock if stung or bitten.
I found one on my lounge wall a couple of weeks ago and just re-located it with a cotton bud pot to some bushes away from my place.

Naturegirl