Comments & ID Thoughts
I believe this spider is an Eratigena atrica (Giant House Spider). I photographed this spider in the Chateau de Maizet where I was a guest on November 9, 2019. The spider was in the corner of a window which was shuttered. It was very cold so I was surprised to see it there. The spider was quite large, with a large leg span. Later upstairs, I found another one, although dead, on the floor....which prompted me to check the bedding thoroughly.
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Nov 11, 2019
- Photographed: Nov 9, 2019
- Spider: Unidentified
- Location: Maizet, France
- Spotted Indoors: Other
- Found in web?: No
- Attributes:
Yes I imagine you’re right. Either that or it’s a hobo spider but probably not.
It’s a male
Hello J_staff99 . Thank you for you comments. May I ask, for future reference, should I run across one of these spiders again, how are you able to determine the sex? Thank you!
Do you see the two small appendages coming off of its face? Those are it’s pedipalps. Adult males have swollen pedipalps. If you look at other adult spiders of this species (or any species really), look at their pedipalps. If they are slender and don’t enlarge towards the end as seen above, then they are female (or maybe immature). There are other ways such as size, coloration or even behavior, but this is the best way as far as I can see.
Ohhhhh, excellent! I see that, and it is an easy way to determine the sex. This guy was very large! The biggest spider I have seen since living in France for the last 11 years. I am always in the forest, in nature, but I never see any spider as large as he was. And he was inside which made him all the more creepy. Thank you!
And they blend in very well in wooded areas so inside they stand out even better! Yes sometimes I think they’re getting larger as time goes on, which is entirely possible, but I’m not sure!
This guy’s leg span easily crossed my entire palm, midway or more up my fingers. I’m convinced when it’s all said and done, the creepy crawlies will survive, and rule the world.
I mean insects (not including arachnids) make up over 70% of the animal kingdom so I’m sure you’re right.