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Is this a False Widow spider?

Jangoo#bJangoo#b Posts: 12
in Wildlife gardening
I'm no spider expert by any means :smile:

I found this little beast near my front door this morning and was wondering what it was. I looked up False widows, but I'm not sure if it is or isn't one. The main difference is the dark black body with very slight markings

Could anyone help in identifying this little spider?


Posts

  • mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
    No idea but would like to know the answer
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,909
    It could be but it's hard to be positive from that photo. The general shape and marking seem to fit though and it could be a dark coloured specimen. Read the science and not the tabloids and it's not really anything to worry about though.
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • Jangoo#bJangoo#b Posts: 12
    Googling False Widow makes things seem really horrible! Especially when you see some of the results from a bite :neutral:

    It looks really close to a False Widow.

    Any recommendations on what do? I was looking for some official articles from a reputable source, but I'm not sure which public body would have this information...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 53,942
    As @wild edges says - don't look on Google, or anything similar, unless it's to find a proper site who specialise. 
    I expect there are plenty - even if you start with zoos. They'll all have an arachnid department. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,909
    From previous research you've got less chance of being bitten than you have of being stung by a bee or wasp. The photos that are often shown are of infected bites that weren't cleaned properly or from people who had a severe reaction to the venom which is again very rare. These guys generally lurk in places humans don't go so you're lucky to see one ;)
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • Jangoo#bJangoo#b Posts: 12
    Thanks all, I'm not sure I feel so lucky at the moment. I think I'll include him in my social distancing plan :smiley:

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,297
    edited March 2020
    I once got a nasty nip from an ordinary garden spider. The kind with the white cross on its “back” that usually hangs upside down in a big web between two shrubs.

    She had decided to go for a nap inside the finger of my gardening glove. I stuck my hand there and she didn’t like it and let me know. We both survived.😊

    Here is a level-headed article about false widow spiders.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2013/oct/17/false-widow-spider-attacks
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 53,942
    Jangoo#b said:
    Thanks all, I'm not sure I feel so lucky at the moment. I think I'll include him in my social distancing plan :smiley:

    You'd better hope he understands the guidelines too then  :D

    As @wild edges says, there's probably a lot more things to be worried about just now  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 17,338
    One lives in my shed and I've never had any problems. A friend has one living in a corner over desk. They both treat each other with respect and have no trouble.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,586
    We have a lot in the conservatory on the roof, they are very crafty, they see the old man moving in with the vacuum cleaner, they scarper.The other day one was glaring at me waving those antena or what they have
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