The biggest spider I'v ever seen.

Lando Griffin

Can anyone tell me what this beast of a spider is.
I was getting a glass of water the pther night and I spotted him/her on the floor.
After the photo I tried to scoop him/her up to expel him/her from the room and up he/she leapt about 2"s into the air and scampered across the floor.
I finally cornered him/her and gently placed him/her outside for a life of freedom.
Are they poisness?
Do they bite?
What is the name of it and are they native to Ireland?
Is it the biggest spider in Ireland?

E39MSport

house spider ?

Black Heart

Yes, it seems to be a male house spider (Tegenaria domestica). The males tend to wander, and they often enter houses looking for females.

They're harmless, and common in Ireland. There is also Tegenaria duellica, known as the giant house spider, but I have not seen one in a house so far.

Also, you should use the word venomous, rather than poisonous.

ThunderCat

Did you win anything on that lotto ticket?

Merch

Black Heart wrote: »

Yes, it seems to be a male house spider (Tegenaria domestica). The males tend to wander, and they often enter houses looking for females.

They're harmless, and common in Ireland. There is also Tegenaria duellica, known as the giant house spider, but I have not seen one in a house so far.

Also, you should use the word venomous, rather than poisonous.

Is this common to Ireland? the giant house spider? I saw a huge spider in a shed at the back of the family home years ago, people didnt believe me, it was nearly the size of the palm of my hand and its web was huge, freaked me out

Black Heart

As far as I know, the giant house spider is widespread. Check out the fourth picture from this page for size.

http://www.uksafari.com/housespiders.htm

In my experience, tegenaria domestica turns up in houses commonly, but I've only seen the giant house spider in locations such as old sheds, timber piles, tile stacks, etc.

Merch

Thats like it I think, it was a good few years ago, it was bigger in all proportion, maybe the same size but slightly thicker body and legs.
It was under wooden flooring that was turned over in a shed that was being cleared, a whole section was turned over to reveal a huge web in a corner, kinda triangular shape at least 10 prob 12 inches on two sides with a diagonal joining them,
Only myself and another person saw it, it was big (the spider) the other person thinks we may have over estimated its already large size in our mind out of fright as we were suprised/freaked when when we saw the spider

Black Heart

You probably saw a female, which have an overall thicker appearance (larger abdomen and shorter, thicker legs), and are also likely to be found in their webs. Most people see the males when they begin wandering in search of mates during autumn.

Half-cocked

Does anyone know what this one is? It's not the biggest I've ever seen, but comes close. The grasshopper its eating was about 1 inch long. Seen in the south of England at the weekend.

javaboy

ThunderCat wrote: »

Did you win anything on that lotto ticket?

Money spider?

That wouldn't be a particularly big house spider in my experience. Had a greenhouse with tomato plants years ago. The conditions were obviously nice for them. I've never seen Irish spiders bigger than the ones I found in there.

Black Heart

Half-cocked, it's called Argiope bruennichi, a wasp spider, as it's known.

Half-cocked

Black Heart wrote: »

Half-cocked, it's called Argiope bruennichi, a wasp spider, as it's known.

Do we have them in Ireland?

Black Heart

No, we don't have them in Ireland. They live in the southern half of England, but are spreading northwards, apparently, thanks to warmer weather. Maybe someday

BargainHunter

Black Heart wrote: »

As far as I know, the giant house spider is widespread. Check out the fourth picture from this page for size.

http://www.uksafari.com/housespiders.htm

In my experience, tegenaria domestica turns up in houses commonly, but I've only seen the giant house spider in locations such as old sheds, timber piles, tile stacks, etc.

Thanks for the link. Good info there. Especially this part.

The species shown in the photo above is very similar in appearance to the 'aggressive house spider' or hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis), which is known to bite humans with little provocation. Despite its name, it is rarely seen in houses, preferring sheds, garages, and log piles.

I had a Tegenaria in my bedroom which I tried to capture and remove but couldnt. He was quite aggressive, trying to bite the little torch that I poked into his web.

One morning I woke up with a massive bite on my shoulder and I dont know what did it. I was wondering if it was the spider, but Ill never know for sure.

Black Heart

It could have been a hobo spider. I've been told they don't turn up much in houses. They prefer waste ground, but then again, if you live near, they may wander in.

I've seen people with nasty bites from various flies, so it's more likely that your bite was a result of those.

humpysomething

Funny you mention this. I found a massive one in my back hall last week. He was huge! Don't usually see them this big, any reason why there are more big ones around?
Sorry about the fuzzy picture, I was trying not to run away.

Black Heart

If it was very large, it might have been Tegenaria duellica. It cartainly looks like a male, though you need close examination of these spiders to be sure of which species you are looking at.

Tegenaria males begin to search for mates at this time of year, and if you have have duellica in your locality, it isn't impossible that a number of them could turn up. You could have a female in, or in the vicinity, of your home.

bryaner

Lando Griffin wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what this beast of a spider is.
I was getting a glass of water the pther night and I spotted him/her on the floor.
After the photo I tried to scoop him/her up to expel him/her from the room and up he/she leapt about 2"s into the air and scampered across the floor.
I finally cornered him/her and gently placed him/her outside for a life of freedom.
Are they poisness?
Do they bite?
What is the name of it and are they native to Ireland?
Is it the biggest spider in Ireland?

Just turfed two of those bad boys out in the last few nights, pretty big and fast.

Lando Griffin

ThunderCat wrote: »

Did you win anything on that lotto ticket?

No, 4 euro quick pick and not one number came up.

The Hill Billy

I live in a solid stone cottage with lots of nooks & crannies for these guys to hide out. From mid-September to late October I am plagued by giant house spiders (well, Mrs Billy is). I could turf out up to 5 per night. (Probably the same 5 each night. ) They are fast critters too.

As for my shed - it would send an arachnophobe into a serious meltdown!

Tzetze

I was out in our shed one evening and saw a fairly large moth flying around. Thought to myself that it likely wouldn't be too long til it found it's way into a web, and sure enough it found the huge web in the window.

One of those house spiders came booting it along from out of it's hiding spot and quick as you like was busy paralyzing the moth. I was hoping to see it wrap up it's victim in a cocoon, but instead it just sucked it's organ juices :pac: out there and then and left the carcass where he'd killed it.

Here's a pic of the juice-suckage...

Alliandre

Would this one be a giant house spider? I actually heard it climbing up my bedroom wall over a poster so I caught it and put it in the bath (and later outdoors). I'm not usually bothered by spiders but this one kind of freaked me out a bit. I didn't realise we had biting spiders in Ireland. Would they give a bad bite?

bryaner

Tzetze wrote: »

I was out in our shed one evening and saw a fairly large moth flying around. Thought to myself that it likely wouldn't be too long til it found it's way into a web, and sure enough it found the huge web in the window.

One of those house spiders came booting it along from out of it's hiding spot and quick as you like was busy paralyzing the moth. I was hoping to see it wrap up it's victim in a cocoon, but instead it just sucked it's organ juices :pac: out there and then and left the carcass where he'd killed it.

Here's a pic of the juice-suckage...

Jaysus thats a big one, great shot!

michellie

Why did i click on this thread ? I think im gona pass out

Morganna

omg i feel sick ...ive never had so many as this year ...in the house its awful i hate them

leinsterrugby

this is like ****ing scaring the **** out me like wtf!!!!!!!! that thing is not normal!!!!!!! i though we were free of spiders like that

Black Heart

They're harmless. Leave your lights on, they won't come out so much

Morganna

ive had ten like that in my house im terrified ........................all squashed im glad to say ...sorry but its them or me ...

Black Heart

:eek: Squashed?

Lobster

No sleep for me tonight.........

Merch

I go on the basis they get other stuff, unless they are too big and are hanging around the bedroom

planetX

I have these monsters living between some heavy curtains and the lining, they come out at night to terrify me, and leave a load of poop under the curtains. What can I do about it??? I'm thinking I have to move house :eek:

Mabel

planetx they're harmless really!

Evicted this lad ten minutes ago. Wasn't too happy at first but it was grand once outside! Sorry about the quality - it was in a plastic container!

Merch

planetX wrote: »

I have these monsters living between some heavy curtains and the lining, they come out at night to terrify me, and leave a load of poop under the curtains. What can I do about it??? I'm thinking I have to move house :eek:

spider poop!? :eek:

Morganna

never slept last night there was a huge one in my bedroom.the fly spray saw it off but im so afraid of them,there seems more this yr than other years
is there anyway to keep them away.

Black Heart

Morganna wrote: »

never slept last night there was a huge one in my bedroom.the fly spray saw it off but im so afraid of them,there seems more this yr than other years
is there anyway to keep them away.

Keep windows closed, doors closed, especially near sunset, that's when they start becoming most active. They only need a minute to get in, they are very fast moving spiders.

Also, if you're brave enough, take a look around the house and ensure there are no females in residence. The males are looking for them.

angelxx

In the past couple of weeks I have noticed some huge spiders in the house. They appear to be getting larger every time and I'm terrified of them lol

Black Heart

I actually constructed some mesh covers for our windows. I can say that they have been a great success.

angelxx

Black Heart wrote: »

I actually constructed some mesh covers for our windows. I can say that they have been a great success.

Really? Are they working for you? Sounds like a good idea, Anything to keep them out

Black Heart

They work perfectly, and are easy to make. You just need to buy some mosquito netting, then cut it to fit the size of the window. The netting I have came with special sticky tape, which doesn't lose its stickiness, so it can be lifted when you need to open or close the window.

angelxx

Black Heart wrote: »

They work perfectly, and are easy to make. You just need to buy some mosquito netting, then cut it to fit the size of the window. The netting I have came with special sticky tape, which doesn't lose its stickiness, so it can be lifted when you need to open or close the window.

Thank you Black Heart
That's very helpful, Just saw another huge spider in my room :eek:

John mac

from the bath the other morning.

planetX

Mabel wrote: »

planetx they're harmless really!

Evicted this lad ten minutes ago. Wasn't too happy at first but it was grand once outside! Sorry about the quality - it was in a plastic container!

I know they are, and I don't kill them. I've got way better with spiders - normal ones that is. It's these huge ones, they make me come out in a cold sweat and my heart thumps and makes me dizzy.
And yes, spider poop. That's how I find where my latest friends are hiding. Big problem is that they are in the curtain lining, and there's no way I can go looking there for them there. I'm pretty sure it's the giant house spider, I've had them in here before - like tarantulas:eek::eek::eek:

UnleashTheBeast

I was out cutting the lawn and hedge today when I spotted this beast.... anybody got any idea what type of Spider this is? I've genuinely NEVER seen a Spider this big before. It wasn't a daddy longlegs or anything... it was definitely a Spider!

Here's a few pics:











Here's the rest of my pics- http://pix.ie/vinnyoc/album/386291


Look at those huge eyes!

Morganna

how will i know where to look for a female,that may be hiding in my house,oh dear im terrified of the things.is there anything that deters them....im loosing sleep over this.....but am relieved to know im not the only one suffering...

angelxx

Morganna wrote: »

how will i know where to look for a female,that may be hiding in my house,oh dear im terrified of the things.is there anything that deters them....im loosing sleep over this.....but am relieved to know im not the only one suffering...

I'm going to try Black Heart's suggestion, There were nine in the house today and one in
my bed this morning, Needless to say I am terrified of them!

Bazzo

I think I found one of these giant house spiders =D. Not normally an arachnaphobe but I heard something the other day when I was walking out of my room and turned to see a spider scuttering along the opposite wall, he was a big fella so I got a bit of a shock. Hadn't seen him in a few days but spotted him moving up the wall today and threw him out, he was pretty damn aggressive, think he had a nibble at me! No mark to show for it though.

Black Heart

Morganna wrote: »

how will i know where to look for a female,that may be hiding in my house,oh dear im terrified of the things.is there anything that deters them....im loosing sleep over this.....but am relieved to know im not the only one suffering...

The females can build their webs anywhere, unfortunately. Behind pictures on the wall, behind the tv, under furniture, in your attic, etc. You can't miss them, though, if you see one. The web looks like a kind of platform, and at one end there will be a funnel-like construction, which is where the female rests.

It's usually best to keep the males out, rather than go looking for any female. Even without the presence of a female, the males can still wander in looking for them.

Black Heart

It's another one of the male tegenarias. There's a thread ongoing:

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056008702

It would seem that these spiders have not been affected by the cold winter, and if my memory of recent weather serves me, the nice spring and summer has ensured that a large number have made it to adulthood. Add that to what could be a pleasant autumn and you will see a lot of these.

FearDark

*runs away*

Fook that. Already have a spider problem here at home, theyre everywhere, there is 9 that I can see on my ceiling as we speak...

UnleashTheBeast

Thanks BlackHeart, I didn't see that.

Mods feel free to merge if you like. Thx.