Identifying this spider (Araneus) *pics

[deifiler]

Hiya

My next door neighbour came round in a flurry panicking that one of my tarantulas was in their house. She said it was in a web in her window and I " " and explained that it couldn't possibly be a tarantula.

Anyway, I salvaged it and it's living in my kitchen, despite what my mother says I fed it yesterday, there are four pictures I've taken.

Oh I'm pretty sure it's an Araneus, possibly diadematus with weaker markings? It has the cross but not the other equisit details... I'll readily admit I'm quite the noob with 'true spiders' but I'm very keen on learning more. Thanks!

It's body is about 12mm, and appears the full size that they get to around here.

Thanks!

Pic one

 

[deifiler]

Picture two... Indoors on my pepper plant for some reason. Gives a nice conctrast

 

[deifiler]

Pic of her in the web... Dorsal markigns... Get a pic up of a diadematus and compare the markings with this; are they just not very visible? The cross is very prominent anyway. Also, what are the four 'indentations' ?

 

[deifiler]

Last pic, I gave her a tasty mealworm.

If any specific shots are needed please let me know

Thanks for your time

 

[Venom]

That is definitely Araneus diadematus; female too, I beleive. Not sure on the four indentations.

 

[Jakob]

A. diadematus indeed, with rather weak markings though!

Jake

 

[deifiler]

Yup it is female, sorry I forgot to mention that.

Yeah I thought it was A. Diadematus, I was just unsure as to what extent the weakness of the markings came in. I'll try for some pics of the more dominant looking females that are scattered around my garden to give a contrast

Thanks people

 

[OldHag]

I found one at my house too!! http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/index.pl?photo=99778
Theyre VERY fun to watch, I have mine in a large screen chameleon cage, its made a big ole orb web and has made an eggsack to boot!! I was told it was araneus angulatus.. What ever they are theyre facinating!
Hag

 

[PrincessToad]

Originally posted by OldHag
I found one at my house too!! http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/index.pl?photo=99778
Theyre VERY fun to watch, I have mine in a large screen chameleon cage, its made a big ole orb web and has made an eggsack to boot!! I was told it was araneus angulatus.. What ever they are theyre facinating!
Hag

I always called those cat faced spiders.

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/catspid.htm

Does this spider look like the one you found?

 

[OldHag]

YES OMG we called them Cat faced too!!! WE WERE RIGHT!!!!! THANKYOU for finding that link!! If forever in your debt!! Spidergirl is my HERO!!!! =D
Thanks Hag

 

[PrincessToad]

Originally posted by OldHag
YES OMG we called them Cat faced too!!! WE WERE RIGHT!!!!! THANKYOU for finding that link!!
Thanks Hag

Its funny that you posted that because me and my husband grew up in southern idaho where cat face spiders were everwhere expecially in the pine trees. My husband and I were having a discussion about these spiders and how he thought they were extremely poisonous. So I had to find a link to prove that they are not poisonous.