Is this a False Widow?

[MantisMani]

My first post here...
Found this little exciting critter in the doorway of my shed, he seems happy enough, not aggressive, about two inches long, big boy,
I did a google search and asked ai to identify and they both seem to think this is a Flase Widow (Steatoda nobilis), can anyone verify please?

nb: Sorry the photography is not too sharp, had trouble focusing the iphone in the dark

 

[MantisMani]

He also has a comrade in the opposite shed doorway, not so large but similar looking...quite big fangs this little one. Hope I'm not misgendering but they seem like blokes to me)

 

[Charliemum]

Yes you have a steatoda there . I keep these as pets lol not ment to have em up here so I look after them when I find em. They aren't anything like ppl make em out to be very chilled as long as you don't squeeze em. You can either catch em up n keep em or leave them be n they are probably female btw the males tend to be much smaller, the second one looks like it's still growing so could be male but am gunna guess the one in the first pics is a gravid female, that abdomen is huge.

 

[Motherofspiders112707]

Yes! I was skeptical at first before you showed the comrade. I’ve seen these before and actually have a wet specimen of one that I accidentally killed while trying to relocate it (it made a web under my spider shelf, had to protect the eight legged children since it could have found its way into a tank), and the white stripe and spots being to a false widow! Were you able to see the white hourglass on the underside of the abdomen?

 

[MantisMani]

Yes you have a steatoda there . I keep these as pets lol not ment to have em up here so I look after them when I find em. They aren't anything like ppl make em out to be very chilled as long as you don't squeeze em. You can either catch em up n keep em or leave them be n they are probably female btw the males tend to be much smaller, the second one looks like it's still growing so could be male but am gunna guess the one in the first pics is a gravid female, that abdomen is huge.

Thanks so much! That’s really helpful to know. I had a feeling it was a False Widow—she's set up a pretty tidy web in the shed doorframe. I’ll probably let her be for now. Appreciate the info on her being likely gravid too! That will be a lot of false widow spiders running about do you think I should relocate her so we don't get overrun?

 

[MantisMani]

Yes! I was skeptical at first before you showed the comrade. I’ve seen these before and actually have a wet specimen of one that I accidentally killed while trying to relocate it (it made a web under my spider shelf, had to protect the eight legged children since it could have found its way into a tank), and the white stripe and spots being to a false widow! Were you able to see the white hourglass on the underside of the abdomen?

Cheers! I haven’t managed to get a look at the underside yet, but I’ll keep an eye out for that white hourglass. Good to know the markings line up though, she does look quite chunky so maybe she is full of eggs. Thanks again!

 

[Charliemum]

Thanks so much! That’s really helpful to know. I had a feeling it was a False Widow—she's set up a pretty tidy web in the shed doorframe. I’ll probably let her be for now. Appreciate the info on her being likely gravid too! That will be a lot of false widow spiders running about do you think I should relocate her so we don't get overrun?

Probably not, honestly if she's there n that big with another quite close I imagine you already have them everywhere, but I promise they won't hurt you, there generation's have probably been there longer then you , if you do ever get bitten keep the wound clean but it's unlikely.
Steatoda have been in the uk for 200 years almost and they rarely bite n the reports on their bites damage is caused by infection of the wound not the actual spider.
Don't get me wrong they are not to be messed with but they are also not the monsters the media makes them out to be.
Hang on I have a vid for you. Brb

 

[Charliemum]

Thanks so much! That’s really helpful to know. I had a feeling it was a False Widow—she's set up a pretty tidy web in the shed doorframe. I’ll probably let her be for now. Appreciate the info on her being likely gravid too! That will be a lot of false widow spiders running about do you think I should relocate her so we don't get overrun?

Best false widow info out there.

 

[zsiciarz]

Yes, both of these are Steatoda nobilis. Lucky strike for the AI, which is otherwise often very wrong about inverts.

 

[MantisMani]

Best false widow info out there.

ty so much for this, gonna get a cup of tea and give it a watch now. if I'm going to be amongst a hoard of long-legged creepers for the summer I need to know what they are capable of, they are seriously blocking my tool shed and bike shed access though but that is ok. They live for up to 5 years so i don't think they are going anywhere soon unless I am forced to relocate them. Not sure what course of action yet, but perhaps adopt it and let it live next door to my 2 mantis, they enjoy fruit flys so perhaps they can share the cultures I feed the mantis, wdyt?

 

[Charliemum]

ty so much for this, gonna get a cup of tea and give it a watch now. if I'm going to be amongst a hoard of long-legged creepers for the summer I need to know what they are capable of, they are seriously blocking my tool shed and bike shed access though but that is ok. They live for up to 5 years so i don't think they are going anywhere soon unless I am forced to relocate them. Not sure what course of action yet, but perhaps adopt it and let it live next door to my 2 mantis, they enjoy fruit flys so perhaps they can share the cultures I feed the mantis, wdyt?

They will happily take fruit walks if you wanted to keep them . A nice tall jar, good ventilation, lots of sticks n a fake leaf or 2 they would happily take up residence .
They are amazing spider Travis can say it better then I ever could. He has lots of uploads on true spiders and even though he is in Canada lots of them we get here too. I always look forward to his uploads.
I have a feeling once watching it you'll come away with the same sense of admiration and respect for these wonderful spiders .
If you ever have any questions feel free to ask and I will help with whatever I can , and please let me know if you choose to keep them or not. I find them fascinating would be nice to have someone else on ab to geek out with about them .

 

[The Snark]

@MantisMani Easy way to differentiate. Profile: Rounded bulbous abdomen, Steatoda. Abdomen curves down to a point - sharp corner, Latro.

 

[Charliemum]

@MantisMani Easy way to differentiate. Profile: Rounded bulbous abdomen, Steatoda. Abdomen curves down to a point - sharp corner, Latro.

I don't think we get latro here Snark op is uk like me . Gotta have a licence to keep latro here...I looked into it 2 grand every year plus you have to pay for all the inspections. Was too rich for my blood.

 

[The Snark]

I don't think we get latro here Snark op is uk like me

Certainly demonstrates the importance of location when posing questions as in ID.