my_plague_666 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 just had someone tell me about how false widow spiders are getting more common, which got me thinking... i work for BT and i always find this particular type of spider in the blocks at the top of telegraph poles, they're chunky black shiny buggers. fairly wide and flat abdomen, the abdomen rarely seems smooth (well, it's smooth but never flat, it usually has dents in it). shiny black legs too. overall they're usually about the size of a £2 coin. any ideas? im sure they're not false widows, just curious. Link to post Share on other sites
amateurstuntman Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Yes, arachnologists do. Sorry, not too helpful but I answered the question in the title bar Link to post Share on other sites
shmook Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 I know they scare the living *suitcase* out of me... Maybe catch one or take a pic, and google it? Edit; any of these? Link to post Share on other sites
my_plague_666 Posted February 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Maybe catch one or take a pic, and google it? difficult since i'm *suitcase* scared of them (to a lesser extent these ones now, but house and wolf spiders still freak me out in a big way) and i can't really get a picture since i don't really want to risk dropping a few hundred quids worth of uninsured smartphone from the top of a pole. after more searching on google it looks like it might be a type of false widow after all, Steatoda nobilis? possibly. although the pictures online seem to never show entirely black ones, the ones i find are 90% of the time jet black all over. they produce sticky, messy cobwebs too, which sounds about right. pretty sure i have heard of engineers being bitten by them too, apparently it hurts quite a bit. Link to post Share on other sites
shmook Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Take a can of fly/wasp spray up with you maybe to keep the little buggers at bay? Link to post Share on other sites
hitmanNo2 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 It sounds like a false widow. There a few different variations of them including black ones. From what I've heard, the experts say their bite is like a wasp sting and the people who have been bitten by them say it's worse than a wasp sting and will hurt for five days or so Link to post Share on other sites
LordElpus Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 just had someone tell me about how false widow spiders are getting more common, which got me thinking... i work for BT and i always find this particular type of spider in the blocks at the top of telegraph poles, they're chunky black shiny buggers. fairly wide and flat abdomen, the abdomen rarely seems smooth (well, it's smooth but never flat, it usually has dents in it). shiny black legs too. overall they're usually about the size of a £2 coin. any ideas? im sure they're not false widows, just curious. I don't know its name, i only know the sounds it makes when it kills someone Link to post Share on other sites
Scuffer Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Take a can of fly/wasp spray Lynx and a lighter up with you maybe to keep the little buggers at bay? Link to post Share on other sites
scorch Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 The method i use is a quick blast of a blowtorch on "big yellow flame" setting. It'll clear out webs and spiders and leave equipment unharmed. You're welcome. Link to post Share on other sites
Xaccers Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Propane bb grenade, quick blast and job done. Link to post Share on other sites
Shardik Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Or just smash your fist into them. Man style! Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Andrews Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Shmook has just given me nightmares with all those pictures............................ Link to post Share on other sites
shmook Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 I had to close the window quick too after grabbing the link. Horrible creatures which have no place on his planet. Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfpack Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I didn't mind them up until I read that house spiders are aggressive, and will bite humans without provocation, now I am looking everywhere and swear I can feel one on my back Link to post Share on other sites
shmook Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I've been bitten by a house spider, when I stood on it. It hurt, but spidey came off worse... Apparently, European house spiders are poisonous, but their fangs are too small to penetrate human skin. (heh, penetrate...) Also, I think they are one of the fastest spiders around iirc. Horrid things. Link to post Share on other sites
StarMonkee Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 I've been bit by a false widow and can say its most unpleasant but spiders generally don't bother me. However when they grow to the size where their leg span is greater than the skirting board that is when I start to get concerned. Link to post Share on other sites
hitmanNo2 Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 I trapped a giant house spider in a glass once. I walked it out into the garden at least 20m or so and placed it on the ground. It followed me right back to the house Link to post Share on other sites
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