Comments & ID Thoughts
would like to know what spider this is?
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Nov 12, 2019
- Photographed: Oct 1, 2019
- Spider: Unidentified
- Location: Barton-Le-Clay, United Kingdom
- Spotted Indoors: Other
- Found in web?: No
- Attributes:
would like to know what spider this is?
Likely Eratigena duellica (giant house spider), maybe a Hobo spider but hopefully not. They are more aggressive and are known to have a venomous bite. This is a female. Good shot.
Hobo Spiders are no more venomous than Giant House Spiders. They have a bad reputation, but there is zero evidence that their bite is remotely dangerous to humans unless the human in question is allergic to spiders, in which case Hobo Spiders are no worse than any other harmless species. People have been misidentifying all sorts of injuries and skin conditions as spider bites for ages, and since Hobo Spiders are big and fast and scary they are a favorite scapegoat.
Oh I see, thank you I didn’t know that! They are more aggressively generally though correct? Hence the name, agrestis (I assume). I know it’s very hard to tell them apart going by appearance.
Okay so according to a pest control website (which actually seems quite reputable), http://www.newleafpestcontrol.com/ , there are five main differences to looks for. Dark color bands on the leg joints, round markings on the sternum, distinct strips on cephalothorax (which I actually haven’t been able to find a difference between) and dark orange-like legs are indicators that it’s a house spider. Honestly though I think you need to see them side by side to really know. Hobo spiders make funnel webs but lots of spiders do so.
Giant House Spiders also make funnel webs. Honestly I can’t tell the two species apart either.
After looking up pictures it does appear that Hobo Spiders are somewhat paler in color… but once again they were side by side. And molting, lighting and even health can all affect that. Apparently Hobo Spiders are more reclusive and rare but that may be just because they are not easily recognized.
Actually, “agrestis” is Latin. It means “field” and refers to the habitat of this species.
That’s interesting and helpful!
Once again, thank you!