This monster has moved into my garden

frenchmartini

He or she is massive. It is living in our compost bin.
Any idea what it is? It is brown with a very large dome shaped body with light markings on the dome.
Not sure if it is clear from the images.
Not keen on spiders but son likes looking at him.

swifts need our help!

house spider

Thargor

Got a pic with something for scale?

frenchmartini

Sure, will send one...

Can't find a way of attaching image in reply, so it's there as a new post.

frenchmartini

Couldn't attach in my original message, but here is one to scale.

p.e.s.

frenchmartini wrote: »

Couldn't attach in my original message, but here is one to scale.

Looks like a well fed House Spider !:D

frenchmartini

Whaaaaa? They grow that big here? So long as it stays in compost bin and doesn't make a move indoors.

Mad4simmental

That's hardly a house spider it's huge!!

Micky Dolenz

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/poisonous-false-widow-spiders-spread-across-ireland-29668336.html

czechlin

Christ on a bike, that's a monster!!! :eek:

Mickeroo

It's definitely a house spider not a false widow, the markings on the abdomen are distinct enough to be able to tell that. I think false widows are a fair bit smaller than house spiders too.

p.e.s.

Yes false widows are approx the size of a thumb nail. With shiny abdomin . The house spider is the big boy on the block and as said there are easily identifiable markings on the house spider. I come across both regularly they can't be mixed up.

swifts need our help!

It's large because its a female

frenchmartini

And female = babies.... So long as mama and spiderlings stay put and DO NOT move into my house.
Shudder.

swifts need our help!

Guaranteed that wandering males will enter the house looking for females this autumn

Thargor

swifts need our help! wrote: »

Guaranteed that wandering males will enter the house looking for females this autumn

They come up through the drain in our shower every year without fail since we built our house near the Burren, no other insects just the same spiders like the one in the OP, maybe a bit darker, cant think of a reason why.

Desmo

They can't get up drains; there is a trap in the way in the outlet and they do not swim.
They go looking for water and look in baths and sinks and can't get out because of the slippery sides.

Kovu

frenchmartini wrote: »

Couldn't attach in my original message, but here is one to scale.

Holy mother of jaysus :eek::eek::eek:
That's huuuuuuge.

frenchmartini

She's still there. I swore she looked right at me :eek:

turnikett1

I can't stop myself from coming back and looking at it... I do it at least once a day! lol makes me feel slightly sick in my stomach when I look at it! I do not envy you, that THING is colossal

TimeToShine

How you haven't killed it yet is beyond me and I commend you for it! You're gonna go for a look one day and it'll be gone...then what?!

Stheno

That's a monster!

Nino Brown

TimeToShine wrote: »

How you haven't killed it yet is beyond me

Maybe she doesn't have a shotgun!

Sadderday

Who cares what it is !!!

Get out there and bleedin stand on it or spray it with the hose or something!

Big FREAK of a spider, i'm itchy everywhere now

thomas anderson.

I'd just set it on fire

Mickeroo

I think this thread has run it's course. Locked.