False Widow Spider?

Alright

(just in case the image doesn't display I've attached the link too)

http://imgur.com/a/EdFQk

I've noticed a few of these spiders in my shed and back garden over the last few years. It looks like a False widow spider:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steatoda

The first one I found, about 3 years ago, was a fine big specimen and I'm guessing that it was female.
I found it under the head cushion of a deck chair just before I put the chair out for my wife. That could have ruined
one of the few sunny days in 2010!

Anyway, I seem to find 4-5 of them each year when I'm gardening or working in the old shed.

It's in Dublin.

Just thought I'd share. If the spider I pictured isn't a false widow spider
let me know.

Thanks

Adam Khor

It does look like a False Widow to me :eek:

Alright

I thought as much.

The bite is meant to be worse than a bee sting...not that I want to find
out! If you're unlucky enough to be allergic then it can be worse.

The one I found a few years ago was bigger than the one I've pictured in
my original post and it looked more like a black widow which, made it
easier to research.

I don't like killing spiders and I just moved it right down the back of the
garden. In hindsight that might have been a mistake; given that it's not
a native species.

I'm not sure how or why they've come to be in my shed and back garden
but I'll just have to keep an eye out for them.

cd07

I found one of these living under my dishwasher a few months back, Im a huge fan of spiders so I just left him be. I did a bit of reading about them they first appeared in the early 90s after hitching a lift on cargo ships etc. As far as I know they came from southern europe and are fairly widespread throughout britain and the east and south of Ireland. Iv read reports of them having a nasty bite but I handled the few Iv found and they dont seem to be aggressive.

Myrddin

Alright wrote: »

It's in Dublin

:eek:

Well there goes me opening my windows during the summer!