Spider identification halps

benneh · 23 Apr 2011 at 07:48

Excuse the crap images. What the fudge is this horrible looking thing?.

It's about 7mm from head to tail, and so far I've found 3 of similar size in the bedroom/bathroom.. It's totally shiny, piano black, weird markings.. Do I need to move house?. Normally I'm not fussed about spiders, but something about these ones causes me to sense danger.

chameleon · 23 Apr 2011 at 08:02

What you have there is a BASS (Big Arsed Scary Spider) it can be utterly deadly (to some people, you know who you are.) but harmless to others.
If you have seen a few then they have most likely hatched from a nest somewhere, there could be hundreds!
Seriously though, I wouldn't worry too much about it as very few, if any British spiders are considered dangerous. If you really wanna know, take a specimen along to your local museum curator or zoo n ask.

P.S. You have bought any bananas or exotic fruit lately, have you?

chameleon · 23 Apr 2011 at 08:14

Akchooally, no kidding this time, you got me thinking. I did a bit of digging n found this site http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/thumbnails/spidhome_thumbnails.htm
If you really don't like spiders, dont look but it has a lot of fotys so you might match you specimen to one of them.

flibbage0 · 23 Apr 2011 at 08:22

What is with these threads popping up about identify this?

Muban · 23 Apr 2011 at 08:24

Looks like it could be a female steatoda bipunctata

Deadbeat · 23 Apr 2011 at 08:26

flibbage0 said:
What is with these threads popping up about identify this?

Aren't you supposed to be studying?

shifty_uk · 23 Apr 2011 at 08:28

Deadbeat said:
Aren't you supposed to be studying?

Lmao!

HungryHippos · 23 Apr 2011 at 08:48

OCUK > Deckard Cain.

Nodiggidy123 · 23 Apr 2011 at 08:57

I think that may be a false widow spider. Not native to the UK but numbers have increased due to the warmer summers. Mildly venomous with some people being admitted to hospital due to bad reactions to its bite.

Kill it with fire

Antelopethy · 23 Apr 2011 at 08:59

Eulogy said:
OCUK > Deckard Cain.

Stay a while and listen!

hux · 23 Apr 2011 at 09:00

Burn it with fire!!!

Sylv · 23 Apr 2011 at 09:32

Nodiggidy123 said:
I think that may be a false widow spider. Not native to the UK but numbers have increased due to the warmer summers. Mildly venomous with some people being admitted to hospital due to bad reactions to its bite.

Kill it with fire

You'd be correct sir.

What's the likelihood of being bitten by a false widow spider? Extremely low.

No one has ever died of a spider bite in the UK and the number of reported bites from spiders in general is minimal. The Natural History Museum's Insect Information Service (IIS) hears of about 10 cases of spider bites each year in the UK.
Source: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2007/may/news_11767.html

~>Dg<~ · 23 Apr 2011 at 09:33

black widow :eek:

goodbye !

flibbage0 · 23 Apr 2011 at 09:44

Deadbeat said:
Aren't you supposed to be studying?

Yes

Whitestar · 23 Apr 2011 at 11:27

Eulogy said:
OCUK > Deckard Cain.

Does that mean Diablo is lurking around somewhere?

Aod · 23 Apr 2011 at 11:51

Whitestar said:
Does that mean Diablo is lurking around somewhere?

*shifty eyes*

Maybe...

bhavv · 23 Apr 2011 at 11:58

KILL IT!!! KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!

Burn them ALL! Spiders must be exterminated.

Rob_J · 23 Apr 2011 at 12:13

Looks like a 'False Widow' to me too, we get a fair few in our conservatory from late spring to winter. They usually only come out after sunset and can grow quite big!

benneh · 23 Apr 2011 at 15:38

Cheers guys. Steatoda bipunctata, that's the mother.. Can't say I'm overly pleased

.

contracteur · 23 Apr 2011 at 16:34

Got bitten by a False Widow 2 years ago on my back. Swelling around the bite & pain went all up my side around the armpit etc..

It went away after a few days