Spider ID

februarysgirl

So, I put raised beds in topped with bark chippings and from the start there's always been small spiders scurrying around it. They also like sunning themselves when it gets warm and since I put down gravel last week, they've taken up residence there as well. Every step I take they come running out.

As they're small I'm not bothered by them, I was curious as to what species they are. I did try Google image search but the problem is most of their photos are really close up and I just can't keep the page open for more than about 10 seconds before I have to close it *shudder*

K67

Small? That looks huge in your photo!

februarysgirl

K67 said:

Small? That looks huge in your photo!

I did use zoom and got quite close up so I could capture the markings. Didn't realise quite how big the photo would turn out 😆

wild edges

Possibly a common fox spider or one of the wolf spiders. They're a bit of a nightmare to identify sorry.

februarysgirl

@wild edges No need to apologise, that's more than I knew before 🙂 I always thought wolf spiders were those big buggers so I stand corrected!

Ladybird4

Hello februarysgirl, I think that might be a juvenile Cardinal spider, which is the largest spider in Britain.

februarysgirl

Ladybird4 said:

Hello februarysgirl, I think that might be a juvenile Cardinal spider, which is the largest spider in Britain.

I really hope not, there are hundreds and hundreds of them 😬

Ladybird4

There will be because the spiderlings hatch out from a silken ball.

 

These are pictures of garden spider babies leaving their cocoon on the side of my blue wheely bin.

Ladybird4

Lots of them will fall victim to predators like birds but they are useful predators in themselves.

februarysgirl

I prefer my useful predators to be a bit smaller 😆