Unusual Spider

mloc

I found an unusual looking spider on the wall near my house in the Dublin Suburbs.

It was large and had a black, round thorax region.

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8038/spidermo3.jpg

Any idea what it might be?

legs11

looks like a black widow..........!


mmmmmm:D

mloc

it does a bit, but im not sure the rear section is bulbous enough. it's still there anyway, I might try and get a better shot of it tomorrow.

boneless

A clearer shot would help a bit...:)

Try catching it and taking the photo. I doubt it is a widow though... for your sake!!

Bradidup

You would know if it’s a widow if its belly has a bright red "hour glass" feature. They have the ability to survive in this country and I wouldnt be surprised if they get here with warmer the climates. The Australian version called the "red back" has already been spotted in Japan. http://www.whatsthatbug.com/widow.html

dogmatix

Interesting - any follow up on this? It's a bit worrying as the original poster has said nothing which makes an arachnophobia sufferer like me worried that it has turned out to be a black widow and had a nibble on him/her while checking on it. I hope it's not a black widow - I might have to emigrate.

Roen

Pick carefully cos those things live all over the world

mloc

Ah, it was not in fact a black widow. Similar looking indeed but no telltale hourglass marks or other patterning. Also smaller and different shaped legs.

I think it's still there actually. I've kinda grown attached to it.

King.Penguin

mloc wrote:

I think it's still there actually. I've kinda grown attached to it.

That would probably be it's web

Roen

So long as it doesn't become attached to you you'll be alright!

andrew_ireland

Is this it:

http://www.usq.edu.au/spider/find/spiders/337.htm

Sleipnir

AH HA!

It may be s spider that I discovered the last year in my garden and in ever increasing numbers. I actually only found out for sure what spider is is because there was a report of it on Sky News teletext service tonight. http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1263904,00.html

If it is the same spider, it's called a "false widow" because it's often mistaken for a Black Widow. It also has quite a nasty bite (but not as serious as a regular Black Widows)

Their webs are a mesh which are anchored by several strong strands. I found one last year in my lanmowers grass collector and it measured more that 1ft by 1ft!

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2006/november/news_10051.html

mloc

its still outside actually. this warm spell seems to be keeping it happy. ill have another look at it and see.

mloc

right, i dont think its a widow, false or otherwise. It's only about an inch leg to leg, and is almost all black apart from two white flecks at the top of the thorax. no other notable markings. lives in shade during the day, small enough web i guess.

mloc

ok, update on this. it's still there... any idea. better pic below...

Must be over a year old now. He's a shy little guy.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

are the legs longer on the left side than the right?

mloc

Nope, I think thats just the camera perspective.