The spider who came in from the cold.

Let us introduce you to Lassie. She lives in our bathroom, just inside the slightly ajar top window to be precise, from where she has a commanding view of all who come and go as their ablutions and bodily functions require. We’re most likely to notice her at night when she emerges from her favourite sanctuary, stretches her legs (all of them) and waits. Her identity had been a source of intrigue and speculation in the household for several weeks until earlier this month when we were reliably informed by Tony, the expert on such matters, that she is a Steotoda nobilis, a.k.a. a false widow spider.

False widow spiders are a small group, all of the genus Steotoda, of which there are six species in the UK. Lassie represents the one introduced species of this group which has been making itself at home in Britain since the late 19^th century, presumably having hitched a ride to these shores with imports from its homeland ­­­- Madeira and the Canary Islands. It was first recorded near Torquay in 1879 and has become naturalised here, the population initially spreading along the south coast and more recently extending northwards into southern and central England, probably assisted by mild winters. They seem to like any structures which provide nooks and crannies to lurk in and somewhere to weave their tangled lattice-work web, eg. fences, walls, sheds and garages.

Unfortunately this species has acquired a bad reputation (as if spiders don’t already have an image problem), as not only is it classified in the same family as the infamous black widow spider, it is one of the dozen or so  spiders out of around 640 in the UK which are regarded as capable of inflicting a painful bite to humans. Unpleasant though the effects can be, the fact that such occurences are rare and non-fatal compared with wasp or bee stings in the UK doesn’t stop some more excitable elements of the news media getting hot under the collar from time to time about this potential menace to humanity, as they would see it. For a more considered account you could consult the Natural History Museum website:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2007/may/news_11767.html

Anyway, back to Lassie. We noticed last month that there never seemed to be any sign in her web of a recent catch, indeed Tony’s observation regarding her appearance was “dehydrated and malnourished” – w­hy she didn’t just move her web to a more productive site I don’t know.  A sacrificial mealworm was chosen from Luke’s prize herd, which he’d been saving for a special occasion, and it was offered to the bathroom voyeur as a restorative tonic. We didn’t see her for several days after that and it was suggested that suitably fortified, she had perhaps found the strength and willpower at last to move on and lurk elsewhere outside. But no, it seems that she didn’t go far or didn’t care much for the chill out there, as last weekend she reappeared in her usual place – bigger, fitter (as the pictures below demonstrate), and with her capacity to observe three grubby blokes’ bathroom habits seemingly undiminished. Luke suspects she may have a unwholesome website...

Lassie pictured before famine relief...

...and after, here attempting a Nosferatu impression.