Calling all budding Entomologists!
Calling all budding Entomologists!
Author
Discussion

Raify

Original Poster:

6,556 posts

277 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Anyone fancy having a go at identifying this little beastie? I think I've narrowed it down to a web-spinner, probably non-venomous although I'd like to be sure. Most likely from Ivory Coast / Cameroon / Ghana.

If I told you where it was found, you'd understand why I'd like to be sure!

[pic]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00453953f00000026.jpg[/pic]

[pic]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00453953f00000027.jpg[/pic]

[pic]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00453953f00000025.jpg[/pic]

TIA, Nathan

Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

273 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Given that it seems to be...
a) Tiny
... and ..
b) Stone dead

I wouldn't worry too much.

rich1231

17,340 posts

289 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
How big is it...

looks to me like a UK resident

Raify

Original Poster:

6,556 posts

277 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Einion Yrth said:
Given that it seems to be...
a) Tiny
... and ..
b) Stone dead

I wouldn't worry too much.



I'm not worried, but because of where it was found, I have to identify it...

rich1231 said:
How big is it...

looks to me like a UK resident


Check the photo with the paperclip (a normal sized clip) If it is a UK spider, I'll be very happy!

>> Edited by Raify on Thursday 18th August 10:41

mkgriff

719 posts

310 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
rich1231 said:
How big is it...

looks to me like a UK resident


The paper clip is 8 inches long

NiceCupOfTea

25,586 posts

280 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
mkgriff said:

rich1231 said:
How big is it...

looks to me like a UK resident



The paper clip is 8 inches long


I went back to look at the picture again after that!

Recently went to the Seychelles on honeymoon and they have these Palm Spiders, so called because they're the size of your palm

Chim Girl

6,268 posts

288 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Raify said:
Most likely from Ivory Coast / Cameroon / Ghana. ..... If I told you where it was found, you'd understand why I'd like to be sure!


I'm guessing it came over here on a banana boat?

pesty

42,655 posts

285 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
looks to me like a uk spider. where did you find it in some bannana's? that teh usual place for those bloody illegal spiders to come in.

mustard

6,992 posts

274 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Chim Girl said:

Raify said:
Most likely from Ivory Coast / Cameroon / Ghana. ..... If I told you where it was found, you'd understand why I'd like to be sure!



I'm guessing it came over here on a banana boat?


Banana Boat?..... been a long time since we last saw one of them, well at least with any punters on anyway!

You cant beat a good Banana Boat!

rich1231

17,340 posts

289 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
looks alot like a Garden spider, often they are mistaken for exotics as the tend to have quite elaborate markings.

Raify

Original Poster:

6,556 posts

277 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Close, possibly on a pineapple pallet (same boat as the bananas)

The reason that so many wee beasties come across in Bananas, is because they're stored at a much higher temperature compared to most other fruit.

Ecks Ridgehead

4,285 posts

257 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Raify said:
I'm not worried


Quite right. Unless films have lied to me - and I'm assuming they haven't - the only times you have to worry about a spider is if it has no sex organs, in which case you'd better find the queen, or if you are a supervillain and the spider is radioactive and bites a boy reporter.

planetdave

9,922 posts

282 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
This is the baby that lives in the windowframe.



It's my friend. That and the dust on the telly.

Raify

Original Poster:

6,556 posts

277 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
pesty said:
looks to me like a uk spider. where did you find it in some bannana's? that teh usual place for those bloody illegal spiders to come in.


It's o.k. this one had a valid visa. Even SO19 can't touch him!

Ecks Ridgehead

4,285 posts

257 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Raify said:

pesty said:
looks to me like a uk spider. where did you find it in some bannana's? that teh usual place for those bloody illegal spiders to come in.


It's o.k. this one had a valid visa. Even SO19 can't touch him!


Well, if it was a spider from West Africa and it was here without the appropriate papers, it deserved to die. I mean, if it hadn't broken the law it'd still be alive, wouldn't it? And answer me this - if it was so innocent, why did it run when the man with the rolled-up newspaper shouted at it to stop?

planetdave

9,922 posts

282 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Haven't you heard?

It was shot once in each leg to stop it running.

Or something like that.

Ecks Ridgehead

4,285 posts

257 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
planetdave said:
Haven't you heard?

It was shot once in each leg to stop it running.

Or something like that.


Ahhh...that would explain the 8-bullet policy.

Nuggs

4,640 posts

263 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Take a look at the "Domestic or Lesser House Spider" here (about half way down the page).

Looks very similar to me...

NiceCupOfTea

25,586 posts

280 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
pesty said:
looks to me like a uk spider. where did you find it in some bannana's? that teh usual place for those bloody illegal spiders to come in.


Are you sure it's not a grey import? Check its spec level and whether it's left hand walk or right hand walk. Those imports are a devil to get serviced...

Raify

Original Poster:

6,556 posts

277 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Nuggs said:
Take a look at the "Domestic or Lesser House Spider" here (about half way down the page).

Looks very similar to me...



Yeah, I think you're right. I've narrowed it down to a web-spinner or a garden spider (Aranidae) the longer front legs suggest it's a web spinner / orb weaver anyway. I really hope it's a UK garden spider, because a particularly annoying man I talk to at work will be eating a large portion of humble pie!

btw, a classic "Commonly asked question about spiders" on that page:

Someone on the internet said:
Are the large tarantulas indestructible?






>> Edited by Raify on Thursday 18th August 12:10